tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281499254112670342018-10-29T04:13:20.248-05:00Rated BeautyTalinoreply@blogger.comBlogger123125RatedBeautyhttps://feedburner.google.comSubscribe with My Yahoo!Subscribe with FeedlySubscribe with SubToMeSubscribe with BloglinesSubscribe with NetvibesSubscribe with Bitty BrowserSubscribe with Daily Rotationtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-828149925411267034.post-84343862047341241692018-01-28T17:22:00.000-06:002018-01-28T17:22:42.097-06:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Hello lovely people! I've decided to move my reviews to Instagram. It's faster and easier for me, so if you liked my old reviews on this blog and want more of my rambling, consider following my @<a href="https://www.instagram.com/ratedbeautyreviews/" target="_blank">ratedbeautyreviews</a> account. I try to review a few products a week.&nbsp;</div><div class="feedflare">
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</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RatedBeauty/~4/ujzTBABrCxY" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Talinoreply@blogger.com0http://www.ratedbeautyblog.com/2018/01/hello-lovely-people-ive-decided-to-move.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-828149925411267034.post-52459762193237002282016-09-19T09:00:00.000-05:002016-09-19T12:35:16.692-05:00Tips & Tricks: How I Use Micellar Waters<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7BS0da8c7Uc/V93HVUR5sHI/AAAAAAAABOE/gWeHlO60LjM4DaPPIGmM6VYIFUEXNV0aQCK4B/s1600/46d2a43f6297625dcd243e2d12c33fda_best.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7BS0da8c7Uc/V93HVUR5sHI/AAAAAAAABOE/gWeHlO60LjM4DaPPIGmM6VYIFUEXNV0aQCK4B/s400/46d2a43f6297625dcd243e2d12c33fda_best.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Instead of reviews all the time, I figured I would add in a few quickie blog posts here and there about tips and tricks I've found useful over the years. Today's topic: micellar waters. If you're not familiar with them, they're basically gentle cleansers <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/micellar-water-skincare_us_55a66a22e4b0896514cfd3c9" target="_blank">made of water with microspheres of oils</a>&nbsp;floating in it&nbsp;and other nice things that work in tandem to cleanse your face.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><a name='more'></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In my experience, if you use them as they are often marketed, as a way to remove your makeup and replace a normal cleanser, most of them will get the job done. Eventually. After about 3-10 cotton pads, depending on how much makeup you've got spackled onto your face. It's such a huge waste of product and cotton, I can't even. Especially since my favorite micellar waters are in the $15-30 price range. I refuse to use them for regular makeup removal. Instead, I've figured out a couple other ways to incorporate them into my routine, because they are wonderful for my super dry skin.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">My favorite way to use micellar waters is as a second cleanse/toner replacement. I take off my mascara with a waterproof eye makeup remover, wash my face with my normal cleanser, and then use 1 cotton pad with micellar water to remove any extra makeup or cleanser I missed the first go-around. I still haven't found a toner that does as much for my skin as micellar water does. For me, micellar water works perfectly as a gentle hydrating step to prime my skin for the rest of my nightly skincare routine. Some of them are packed with great ingredients and it seems a pity to swipe all that away with a cotton pad full of toner.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sometimes, I will use one of those pre-package facial cleansing cloths at night when I'm on vacation to places where the tap water is sketchy or when I'm too exhausted after work to go through the whole normal face washing thing. Micellar waters are awesome at removing cleansing cloth residue. I know most cleansing cloths are all like, "you can use me without washing your face after!" but that squicks me out and has clogged my skin in the past, so I'm all about micellar waters after using them. Better safe than sorry.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Last but not least, I also use micellar waters is as my morning cleanse to get last night's skincare routine off and prep my skin for the morning. That part of the marketing is true for me; they can replace my morning cleansers, no problem. But ONLY morning or makeup free days. Never when I'm wearing makeup.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>My current favorite pricier micellar waters</b>:&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://api.shopstyle.com/action/apiVisitRetailer?id=523139126&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">La Roche-Posay Micellar Water for Sensitive Skin</a>, $13-20 (they have different sizes)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://api.shopstyle.com/action/apiVisitRetailer?id=477923436&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Lierac Paris Demaquillant Douceur Micellar Cleansing Water</a>, $24</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>My favorite drugstore micellar water</b>:&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://api.shopstyle.com/action/apiVisitRetailer?id=467129093&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Simple Micellar Cleansing Water</a>, $5-7</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="feedflare">
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</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RatedBeauty/~4/4rHc2qeD9rg" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Talinoreply@blogger.com1http://www.ratedbeautyblog.com/2016/09/tips-tricks-how-to-use-micellar-water.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-828149925411267034.post-80842574145633332962016-09-17T16:34:00.000-05:002017-02-11T10:29:45.017-06:00Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Longwear Cushion Foundation Review <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K54h4IJdnwY/V92YDreqNRI/AAAAAAAABNY/Un6pQjgfgP8nmBoq7681D7lp1s068M47gCK4B/s1600/lancomecushion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K54h4IJdnwY/V92YDreqNRI/AAAAAAAABNY/Un6pQjgfgP8nmBoq7681D7lp1s068M47gCK4B/s320/lancomecushion.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I got an email from Sephora yesterday saying that I was $98 away from becoming a VIB Rouge, which if you don't know, means I spent an embarrassing amount on makeup and skincare products this year. In my mind, this means I have 2 options: a) go into a makeup-spending induced shame spiral or b) start this blog back up again so that I can justify my insanity as a "hobby." Guess which option I picked? Hahahaha... Come to me, VIB Rouge exclusive products...&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To kick off my foray back into makeup blogging, I decided to go with my latest and most pricey attempt at finding my dream summertime foundation because I can't find a lot of decent reviews on it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><a name='more'></a><br /><br /><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The other day, I went into a Macy's with my friend and got color matched for Lancome's latest foundation, the&nbsp;<a href="https://api.shopstyle.com/action/apiVisitRetailer?id=534380642&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Teint Idole Ultra Longwear Cushion SPF 50</a>. I don't know about you, but finding a foundation shade that matches and works on my skin is a goddamn nightmare. &nbsp;If I had to pick one makeup issue to be whiny about, it's color matching. I have neutral undertones with a lot of redness from karatosis pilaris/rosacea, so I need a &nbsp;neutral light-medium foundation with a hint of yellow and medium to full coverage to balance out the pinkness. You'd think that wouldn't be too hard to find, but it weirdly is. I usually have to mix foundation shades together to get a match. I am also really picky about how foundations settle into my fine lines. Basically, I hate foundations and am hard to please. I would go without, but I get really red when I'm mad or stressed at work, which is 70% of my workday, let's be real. I need that damn coverage to make my wrath mode more subtle. &nbsp;Anyway I got color matched for this product and Bisque 310 is somehow PERFECT for me, so I bought it on the spot to get the gift-with-purchase bag of deluxe samples (I'm a sucker for those. Every time. UGH).&nbsp;</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Overall, &nbsp;I really, really love this foundation. The formula is everything that I've ever wanted. It's moisturizing, comfortable, covers my redness and skin flaws, has a wonderfully high SPF, isn't too perfumed, stays on my skin all day, and has a truly beautiful luminous finish. As someone with super dry skin, this is my dream formula. &nbsp;I like it even better than the <a href="http://www.ratedbeautyblog.com/2015/01/makeup-review-guerlain-lingerie-de-peau.html" target="_blank">$63 Guerlain</a> that is my winter foundation, because that one can emphasize all my dry spots if I don't slather my face with my hardcore-est of moisturizers beforehand.&nbsp;</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here is my face before foundation. I have on some brow powder, mascara &amp; lipstain, but that's it. Behold, my pores, non-angry pinkness, and freckles as taken by my phones camera w/ flash:&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YPfTOwLWWlU/V92mkJnQcEI/AAAAAAAABNo/XNk2htsY0-0Apqq48ykzz-LTVI7eHsSrQCK4B/s1600/beforefoundation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="before and after lancome cushion foundation" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YPfTOwLWWlU/V92mkJnQcEI/AAAAAAAABNo/XNk2htsY0-0Apqq48ykzz-LTVI7eHsSrQCK4B/s640/beforefoundation.jpg" title="lancome teint idole ultra longwear cushion foundation before and after" width="345" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And here is my face after applying the&nbsp;Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Longwear Cushion with a beauty blender:&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RwP5zmmTyFk/V92n0bTL50I/AAAAAAAABN0/D1B6SE7Kb_EZTV1QUNUbPZ2BjAjZOV1ZACK4B/s1600/AfterFoundation.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="before and after lancome cushion foundation" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RwP5zmmTyFk/V92n0bTL50I/AAAAAAAABN0/D1B6SE7Kb_EZTV1QUNUbPZ2BjAjZOV1ZACK4B/s640/AfterFoundation.jpg" title="lancome teint idole ultra longwear cushion foundation before and after" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Same lighting, same phone, zero editing because I'm lazy AF. Thanks to my phone's flash, I look 3 shades pastier than I am in real life, but it gives you an idea of what I'm working with beforehand and how great this foundation is at evening out my skin. It is absolutely perfect for me, and I love that it somehow hides everything I don't like about my skin but you can still see my skin underneath. If you build it up, you can get full coverage out of it and it still somehow doesn't look cakey. I just can't get over how much I adore this stuff.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There are a few cons: I hate the cushion. I haven't used cushion foundations before, but this "cushion" is made of fine wire mesh, and I feel like I have to press really fucking hard to get any product onto my beauty blender. I feel like I'm going to bust up the mesh layers with how hard I have to press. Also, you want to use a beauty blender or similar with this. The pouf applicator it comes with is crap and applies too heavy-handedly/unevenly. &nbsp;When I'm really lazy, I use a flat top kabuki brush and force the bristles through the mesh to get product on there, and that works ok, but not as well.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In addition to that annoyance, with cushion foundations and this product in particular, you just don't get as much product. I'm convinced the "cushion" is just an annoying gimmick that makes my foundation hard to get to and hides how little is in the cartridge. I certainly can't find any benefit of having this formula in a "cushion" vs having a normal Lancome pump bottle. With this product, you get .45oz for $47, when Lancome's regular pump foundations are 1 oz for the same price, so you are getting less than half the amount of product, and that irritates me.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In short, the foundation formula is awesome but the cushion isn't a cushion (it's a sad, metal mesh foundation prison) and it's not a good value. But if you are as desperate as I to find a foundation you love and have stopped caring about price tags, this is a great option for normal, dry, and combination skin. It's an oil free formula that claims to work for all skin types, so it might work if you're oily too? Worth trying a sample, in any case. But definitely make sure you love it before you buy, because the price tag is stupid high for the amount of product you're actually getting.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Rated Beauty Grade</b>: A- (would have been an A+ but I can't get over the value aspect of it)&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Price</b>: $47 at <a href="https://api.shopstyle.com/action/apiVisitRetailer?id=534380642&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Nordstrom</a>, <a href="https://api.shopstyle.com/action/apiVisitRetailer?id=533494210&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Ulta</a>, <a href="http://www.sephora.com/teint-idole-ultra-longwear-cushion-foundation-spf-50-P410888?skuId=1846021&amp;icid2=products%20grid:p410888" target="_blank">Sephora</a>, <a href="https://api.shopstyle.com/action/apiVisitRetailer?id=534022083&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Saks 5th</a>, <a href="https://api.shopstyle.com/action/apiVisitRetailer?id=533375843&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Neiman Marcus</a></div><span id="goog_547683606"></span><span id="goog_547683607"></span></div><div class="feedflare">
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</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RatedBeauty/~4/cQkbHWVz4nY" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Talinoreply@blogger.com0http://www.ratedbeautyblog.com/2016/09/lancome-teint-idole-ultra-longwear-review.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-828149925411267034.post-36166084260129562432015-06-15T08:00:00.000-05:002015-06-15T08:00:06.080-05:00Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Gloss Review and Swatches<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=473458714&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank"><img alt="Anastasia Lip Gloss Petal" border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0QzLMhikIJU/VXy_2zn75AI/AAAAAAAABBc/Gqy7z1iO_UY/s320/anastasia%2Blip%2Bgloss.jpg" title="Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Gloss Review and Swatches" width="105" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>I was excited when Anastasia Beverly Hills released their new <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=473458714&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">lip gloss collection</a> a few months ago. While I wasn't impressed with the <a href="http://www.ratedbeautyblog.com/2015/03/makeup-review-anastasia-beverly-hills.html" target="_blank">ABH liquid lipsticks</a> I tried and the <a href="http://www.ratedbeautyblog.com/2015/01/makeup-review-anastasia-beverly-hills.html" target="_blank">powder contour palette</a> was just decent and not mindblowing, I can't resist that brand.&nbsp;<div><br /></div><div>Unlike the lipsticks, when the lip glosses were released, it seemed like ABH wasn't really pushing them. I didn't see a buttload of rave reviews all over youtube or countless beauty bloggers going apeshit with swatches, and by that, I mean there wasn't an internet saturation campaign going on where all Norvina's approved devotees got freebies. At the time, I wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing. Did it mean that ABH wasn't particularly proud of this product? Were they not promoting it like crazy because it was cheaper ($16) than most of their other stuff? Or did they think that the product was so solid that it didn't need all the extra effort?&nbsp;<div><a name='more'></a></div><div>Well, friends, I'm happy to tell you it was the latter. These lip glosses are fucking perfect if you're looking for a full-coverage gloss that wears like a lipstick. Every rave you can find about these glosses is legit. They. Are. Gorgeous. And everything I want a lip gloss to be. They're super comfortable - the formula is smooth without any stickiness and it never dries out my lips. They're long wearing - I can and have applied these glosses and still had color and hydration at the end of the workday, especially the darker colors. They're scent-allergy safe - the scent is subtle and amazing, like vanilla frosting, but only lasts for a minute or two. After that, the gloss is scentless and basically flavorless. They're easy to apply - the wand applicator is well-shaped and the formula is a perfect spreading consistency. No lip liner needed.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>All in all, I think ABH has covered every base you could possible cover for a lip gloss. Not only that, but the color selection is incredible. You get everything from nudes to neons to dark purple in cool, warm, and neutral tones. If you have lips, there is a color in there that will suit your complexion. You don't want a creamy, opaque lipstick-like gloss? Try the lighter glitter shades, which are more sheer and I think meant to be layered over lipsticks or layered on their own for opacity (2 coats do it for me). If you're interested, here's Norvina swatching them and talking about the colors:&nbsp;</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VTW7f1Qiqy0/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VTW7f1Qiqy0?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I already own a ton of lip gloss, so I was originally planning to buy only 3: Vintage, Neon Carnival, and Petal. Yeah, I couldn't stop there after I tried them. I now have Date Night, Metallic Rose, and Candy. And I want MOAAR! They're like lip gloss Pokemon to me and I NEED to have them all. Or at least, all the ones that'll work with my coloring. I don't even look at my other lip glosses anymore, the ABH glosses are that great. I cleaned out my purse of all my old faves and replaced them with these, no lie. Here, have some swatches:&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1a8PjOVReJo/VXzCMf3_0II/AAAAAAAABB0/9C0YzuSSdLM/s1600/anastasia%2Bswatches%2Bno%2Bflash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Gloss Review and Swatches" border="0" height="270" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1a8PjOVReJo/VXzCMf3_0II/AAAAAAAABB0/9C0YzuSSdLM/s400/anastasia%2Bswatches%2Bno%2Bflash.jpg" title="Anastasia Lip Gloss Swatches Date Night, Petal, Neon Carnival, Candy, Metallic Rose, Vintage without Flash" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No Flash, Left to right: Date Night, Petal, Neon Carnival, Candy, <br />Metallic Rose, Vintage</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z8UOqNv21Is/VXzCMW3MhWI/AAAAAAAABBw/Nl-0U7v8_gg/s1600/anastasia%2Bswatches%2Bflash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt=" Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Gloss Review and Swatches" border="0" height="321" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z8UOqNv21Is/VXzCMW3MhWI/AAAAAAAABBw/Nl-0U7v8_gg/s400/anastasia%2Bswatches%2Bflash.jpg" title="Anastasia Lip Gloss Swatches in Date Night, Petal, Neon Carnival, Candy, Metallic Rose, Vintage with flash" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flash, Left to Right: Date Night, Petal, Neon Carnival, Candy, <br />Metallic Rose, Vintage</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Some color notes: Petal is more pink than in these pics, Candy looks exactly like the non-flash pic, and the glitters look more sheer in person. I think the one I wear least is Candy, because it's a bit light for my tastes now that I have a tan, but it was very lovely when I was pale from winter. Also, I love layering Metallic Rose over Vintage.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Long story short, the ABH lip glosses are amazing, are better than every lip gloss I've tried, and are well worth the money.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Rated Beauty Grade</b>: A+</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Price</b>: $16 at <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=473458714&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Macys</a></div><div><br /></div></div><div class="feedflare">
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</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RatedBeauty/~4/H5eTKnRe61k" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Talinoreply@blogger.com0http://www.ratedbeautyblog.com/2015/06/anastasia--lip-gloss-review-swatches.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-828149925411267034.post-68235266771916542015-06-02T07:30:00.000-05:002015-06-02T11:15:33.356-05:00Blackbox Cosmetics Balance Face Prep/Toner Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IIb27dwia9U/VWpsnvRl_fI/AAAAAAAABAg/boX2ACya39Y/s1600/RestorationSkinBalance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="209" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IIb27dwia9U/VWpsnvRl_fI/AAAAAAAABAg/boX2ACya39Y/s320/RestorationSkinBalance.jpg" title="Blackbox Cosmetics Balance Face Prep/Toner Review" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Since I've been a fan of every product you get in the <a href="http://www.ratedbeautyblog.com/2015/03/first-impressions-blackbox-cosmetics.html" target="_blank">Blackbox RestorationSkin</a> set, I decided to branch out and try more of their products. I have either loved or liked everything I've bought from them to date, with the exception of this product: the <a href="https://shop.blackboxcosmetics.com/product-details?id=247&amp;ajax=true" target="_blank">Blackbox Cosmetics&nbsp;Balance Face Prep/Toner</a>.<br /><div><br /></div><div>I have combination skin, so I thought that this would be my dream toner. It claims to make skin soft and satiny while reducing pore size. Who doesn't want that? Plus, my t-zone is in need of some serious balancing, so I bought it, expecting to be wowed. I... wasn't.<br /><a name='more'></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UfJT7CY1CRo/VWpsnmFmIJI/AAAAAAAABAo/x0IsjjtCGk4/s1600/balancetonerfront.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UfJT7CY1CRo/VWpsnmFmIJI/AAAAAAAABAo/x0IsjjtCGk4/s640/balancetonerfront.jpg" title="Blackbox Cosmetics Balance Face Prep/Toner Review" width="360" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>My main issue with this product is the smell. Everything else I've bought from Blackbox Cosmetics smells fruity and amazing, so why does this toner smell like a gross, cheap, witch-hazel toner with a hint of vinegar? It grosses me out. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if I wasn't so damn scent-sensitive, but still. I have never, ever used a toner that smelled awful except for a cheap witch hazel toner I tried in high school. I wasn't expecting this product to give me HS flashbacks, so I'm bummed. If you're going to be spending $20 on a toner, using it should be a pleasant experience, you know?&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uzhmRDxDvU0/VWpsnsWHopI/AAAAAAAABAk/Ju2Um5A0Ymw/s1600/balancetonerside1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="balance face prep toner directions" border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uzhmRDxDvU0/VWpsnsWHopI/AAAAAAAABAk/Ju2Um5A0Ymw/s640/balancetonerside1.jpg" title="Blackbox Cosmetics Balance Face Prep/Toner Review" width="360" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>After over a month of using the Balance Prep, I experienced none of the claims. Using it didn't make my skin soft, it didn't do anything for my pore size, and it just doesn't seem to do much for me in general except make my skin kinda gross-smelling for a short period of time and remove extra makeup I might have missed when washing my face. Which is what cheaper toners will do for you.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>I don't even like the packaging. It's pretty much the same as the <a href="https://shop.blackboxcosmetics.com/?category=12#gallery" target="_blank">shampoo/conditioner</a>, and the pump dispenses too much product too quickly. It shoots on out into the cotton pad, splashing and making a mess if you're not hyper vigilant, and everyone knows "vigilant" isn't in my vocabulary until after 10am. I guess the best thing I can say about the Balance Face Prep/Toner is that you get a lot of it at 9.25oz and that you don't need much to saturate a cotton pad. The downside is that if you're like me and don't like it, it is going to take a long, looooong time to use up.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-886Hm1WgURA/VWpsoO51kyI/AAAAAAAABAs/WTn_tCZXRwQ/s1600/balancetonerside2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="balance face prep toner ingredients" border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-886Hm1WgURA/VWpsoO51kyI/AAAAAAAABAs/WTn_tCZXRwQ/s640/balancetonerside2.jpg" title="Blackbox Cosmetics Balance Face Prep/Toner Review" width="360" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Yes, this product has a lot of great-sounding ingredients, but if it isn't $20 worth of effective, what is the point? Also, it seemed to dry out my skin a bit, but luckily for me, the other <a href="http://www.ratedbeautyblog.com/2015/04/review-blackbox-cosmetics-infusion-am.html" target="_blank">Blackbox serums</a> counteracted the drying effect. Other than that, I haven't experienced any other negative effects. However, it does seem to be more geared towards the normal-oily skin set. If that's your demographic and you can handle the scent, you might just like this product. However, it was a miss for me.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Rated Beauty Grade</b>: C-</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Price</b>: <a href="https://shop.blackboxcosmetics.com/td1206" target="_blank">$19.95 Online, $15.96 ISA</a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><b style="line-height: 19.6000003814697px;">Note/Disclaimer</b><span style="line-height: 19.6000003814697px;">: Blackbox has it set up so you can't buy anything without an ISA number. If you want, you can use mine&nbsp;</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri; line-height: 19.6000003814697px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 19.6000003814697px;">(TD1206) or google around for an ISA in your area. Please know that I'm an ISA so that I can try out Blackbox products less expensively, and I'm not and never will try to sell you anything.&nbsp;</span></span></span></div></div><div class="feedflare">
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</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RatedBeauty/~4/VAyJkJIhasQ" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Talinoreply@blogger.com0http://www.ratedbeautyblog.com/2015/06/blackbox-cosmetics-balance-face-prep-review.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-828149925411267034.post-10646244532094665902015-06-01T06:30:00.000-05:002015-06-01T06:30:03.272-05:00L'Oreal Butterfly Intenza Waterproof Mascara Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=456540238&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank"><img alt="Best drugstore waterproof mascara 2015" border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dC78PALsncc/VWpY4ya3GNI/AAAAAAAAA_0/jxD45YRNWTk/s320/butterflyintenza.jpg" title="L'Oreal Butterfly Intenza Waterproof Mascara Review" width="121" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Right before I left for my Punta Cana vacation, I bought <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=456540238&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">L'Oreal's Butterfly Intenza Waterproof Mascara</a> since I <a href="http://www.ratedbeautyblog.com/2015/02/makeup-review-loreal-butterfly-intenza.html" target="_blank">liked the original</a> so much. I figured the waterproof version would be pretty much the same as the original, but maybe with less flaking. I didn't think it would blow my mind or anything, because with my little lashes, I'd long since given up on finding the perfect mascara. But that was before I tried this stuff...<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><div><br /></div><div>Holy balls, my friends. I have finally found the mythical Mascara Holy Grail for short lashes. It lives! It exists! And it's a waterproof drugstore mascara under $10. It does absolutely everything I've always wanted a mascara to do. Not only does the waterproof Butterfly Intenza define every single lash while lengthening and volumizing, but it also retains curl like a dream. All. Day. Long. And all night long. On top of all that, it doesn't flake or clump during applications. I was able to do multiple coats with no problems. Oh, and did I mention it's waterproof?&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Now, when I say it's waterproof, I don't mean I tested it by getting lightly rained on or something. Oh no. I frolicked in the ocean for hours with this mascara. I rinsed my face off in a rainshower, and I sweated exactly how you'd expect a Minnesotan to sweat in the Dominican Republic. It looked great through it all! &nbsp;It is, hands down, the most incredible mascara I have ever tried. It also wound up being the only makeup I wore after day 2 in Punta Cana, because it was as humid as a damn rainforest and my makeup noped the fuck right off my face every time I tried to make an effort.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>In case you think this is all too good to be true, here are some before and afters, taken this afternoon:&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Tru0-v5fd_Q/VWpY5AbXYMI/AAAAAAAAA_8/eQXJakO-iiw/s1600/butterflyintenzabefore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The best drugstore mascara before" border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Tru0-v5fd_Q/VWpY5AbXYMI/AAAAAAAAA_8/eQXJakO-iiw/s400/butterflyintenzabefore.jpg" title="Before Butterfly Intenza Waterproof Mascara" width="251" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before: Behold, my stubby lashes. <br />#hashbrownnomakeup</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FYIJcP2eXo4/VWpY4xmdGnI/AAAAAAAABAI/RsikrrGdbRQ/s1600/butterflyintenzaafter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="best drugstore mascara after" border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FYIJcP2eXo4/VWpY4xmdGnI/AAAAAAAABAI/RsikrrGdbRQ/s400/butterflyintenzaafter.jpg" title="After Butterfly Intenza Waterproof Mascara" width="230" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After: LASHES!&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table>Based on the amount of redness, pores, and freckles, you can see these pics aren't retouched in any way. I used a lash curler, as always, and only 1 coat of mascara. My lashes look so long! I'm obsessed. Usually, I only get that kind of length with falsies, so I can't imagine how great this mascara would be for people with actual lashes. It's as close to perfect as a mascara will ever be for me, and I can't recommend it enough!<br /><br /><b>Rated Beauty Grade</b>: A+++<br /><br /><b>Price</b>: $8.99 at <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=456540238&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Ulta </a>and pretty much every drugstore out there.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div class="feedflare">
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</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RatedBeauty/~4/cG6aROfGODA" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Talinoreply@blogger.com0http://www.ratedbeautyblog.com/2015/06/butterfly-intenza-waterproof-mascara-review.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-828149925411267034.post-9816323741119205262015-05-30T18:45:00.000-05:002015-06-04T11:00:38.160-05:00Blackbox Cosmetics Little Secret Weapon Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://shop.blackboxcosmetics.com/td1206" target="_blank"><img alt="Best Eye Creams Blackbox Little Secret Weapon Review" border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kbmgY8EGQdU/VWpJNWF6KkI/AAAAAAAAA_k/CxLTRKw8oeE/s320/littlesecretweapon.JPG" title="Blackbox Cosmetics Little Secret Weapon Review" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br />So sorry I've been MIA this month. The first week of the month was spent spazzing over my upcoming Dominican Republic vacation and making sure I had all my ducks in a row. The second week, I was in Punta Cana to celebrate a friends wedding. I was going to start blogging again as soon as I got back, but my work decided to have layoffs and everything has been turmoil ever since. So, without further ado, here's a review on <a href="https://shop.blackboxcosmetics.com/product-details?id=41&amp;ajax=true" target="_blank">Blackbox Cosmetics' Little Secret Weapon</a>.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><div>I'll be honest: I don't really use eye creams/serums. I'll &nbsp;try out samples when I get them, but they're not something I buy for myself. My regular face moisturizers for dry combination skin work just fine for me, and I've been lucky to have eye skin that's been wrinkle-resistant so far. I do have some superfine lines and one slight crinkle when I smile, but that's it. However, I get puffy eyes (thanks allergies!) and some mild dark circles from time to time, so I thought that the Little Secret Weapon would be a good product to prevent further aging and correct the other minor issues based on the description on the Blackbox Cosmetics <a href="https://shop.blackboxcosmetics.com/td1206" target="_blank">website</a>:&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><i>"This incredible serum is designed to instantly tighten the delicate skin tissue under the eye, while reducing &amp; removing puffiness, dark circles, and fine lines. LSW has an very high concentration of hyaluronic acid, microalgae, 6 different wrinkle-reducing Peptides, Hexapeptides, &amp; Dipeptides. These extremely effective amino acid based compounds have a fast absorption rate and the effects are often compared to botox, because they cause the skin to relax... safely and naturally. For long-term benefits, LSW is loaded with collagen building aminos, vitamins, &amp; other age-defying compounds. There isn't another under-eye product available anywhere that is so powerful. LSW is organically preserved."</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>I would say Little Secret Weapon is more of a light cream than a serum. It's white in color and has a slightly creamy texture, like a light body lotion. A little goes such a long way. A quarter of a pump works for both my eyes and the annoying laugh line on the bridge of my nose (they say you can use the product wherever you have wrinkle formation as well). It's kind of amazing how little I need. Considering the product size is .5 oz, the same amount as the face serums, it's going to last me forever.&nbsp;</div><div><u><br /></u></div><div>I've been using this product since February, and I haven't seen any real improvement in my fine lines or undereye circles. Perhaps mine need to be more dramatic for the serum to make a difference? I feel like every blurb I find about this product is a rave, but then again, these are coming from bloggers that got the product for free or people who are selling it. Maybe it's not just me.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>That said, it is AMAZING at getting rid of puffiness. I puff up a bit when I have a dust allergy flare up. When I cry (I'm a stress/rage crier), my eyes puff up to the point where I look like I got stung in the face by a wasp. It's weird as hell. Usually, it takes hours for the swelling to go down enough for makeup to look normal, but with this product, the swelling disappears in 15-30 minutes. It's a miracle, I tell you! And for this reason alone, I will give this product a decent rating. Because omg. I can't tell you how relieved I am to be able to cry and not look like a puffer fish for 5 hours.<br /><br />It's not very eye-makeup compatible (it makes mine slide right off, even with primer), so I only use it at night or on days when I don't wear makeup. It does cause some slight tingling once in a while, but other than that, I can't think of any warnings. It moisturizes well, has a pleasant fruity smell, and de-puffs my eyes like a dream. &nbsp;However, since I didn't see any change in my fine lines or dark circles, I wouldn't say it lived up to its claims. Feel free to try it out, but don't go in expecting miracles. Are there really any miracle eye products out there? I have my doubts. At least this one is aloe based!<br /><br /><b>Rated Beauty Grade</b>: B<br /><br /><b>Price</b>: <a href="https://shop.blackboxcosmetics.com/td1206" target="_blank">$32.95 Online, 26.36 ISA</a><br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri; line-height: 19.6000003814697px;">Note/Disclaimer</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri; line-height: 19.6000003814697px;">: Blackbox has it set up so you can't buy anything without an ISA number. If you want, you can use mine&nbsp;</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri; line-height: 19.6000003814697px;">(TD1206) or google around for an ISA in your area. Please know that I'm an ISA so that I can try out Blackbox products less expensively, and I'm not and never will try to sell you anything.&nbsp;</span></span></div><div><i><br /></i></div></div><div class="feedflare">
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</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RatedBeauty/~4/7wtlbqWTpEE" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Talinoreply@blogger.com0http://www.ratedbeautyblog.com/2015/05/blackbox-cosmetics-little-secret-weapon-review.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-828149925411267034.post-58801090623052122932015-04-24T18:31:00.000-05:002015-05-27T15:19:49.646-05:00Review: Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Beso and Patina<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3XiMm_mXt0k/VTrak6tCqCI/AAAAAAAAA-U/6zT1Z32SdeI/s1600/stilabeso.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3XiMm_mXt0k/VTrak6tCqCI/AAAAAAAAA-U/6zT1Z32SdeI/s1600/stilabeso.jpg" width="51" /></a></div><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b>Product</b>: <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=389638684&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick</a><br /><br /><b>Review</b>: These are pretty much my staple liquid lipsticks right now. Beso is a gorgeous red. I think it's neutral? but it might lean more towards warm. Definitely not a blue-based red, that's for sure. Patina is a neutral dusty mauve that is my go-to neutral lipstick when I want something long-lasting and am rocking a smokier eye. Which is most of the time, let's be real.<br /><br />What I love most about these lipsticks is that they go on creamy and opaque. I never feel the need for a second coat, and I can get them to look great with minimal fuss. They're so easy to apply, I rarely use lip liner or concealer for cleanup. I also love that the formula dries matte but doesn't settle into lines. However, because of this, I usually prefer to smile a bit and use a finger to smooth the product and get it into the major creases in my lips. Using this technique prevents me from applying extra product I don't need. Layer on too much, and it starts feeling tacky, which irritates me.<br /><br /><a name='more'></a><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ftJJ7aGA4_c/VTrOvmGen1I/AAAAAAAAA94/u_oAcyzImhY/s1600/StilaPatinaBeso1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Stila Beso Patina Review" border="0" height="301" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ftJJ7aGA4_c/VTrOvmGen1I/AAAAAAAAA94/u_oAcyzImhY/s1600/StilaPatinaBeso1.jpg" title="Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Beso and Patina" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Patina on top, Beso on bottom. 1 layer. Yay, opacity!</td></tr></tbody></table>Wear time on these is great. If I'm careful, I get around 8 hours of solid wear time as long as I don't eat a ton and avoid greasy foods. Greasy foods are the devil when it comes to this lipstick! Have part of a damn eggroll and it starts flaking off. However, they tend to stain enough that it doesn't look horrible before I'm able to touch up.<br /><br />Funny story. &nbsp;I was chatting with my boyfriend and absentmindedly put on lotion, totally forgetting I had swatched my hand. Look, Ma! No smudging!!! I'm so impressed right now.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P9PJ_kqTzVU/VTrOvmX76bI/AAAAAAAAA98/b9yUYKhcthM/s1600/StilaPatinaBeso.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Stila Liquid Lipstick Beso Petina Review" border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P9PJ_kqTzVU/VTrOvmX76bI/AAAAAAAAA98/b9yUYKhcthM/s1600/StilaPatinaBeso.jpg" title="Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Beso and Patina" width="270" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After vigorous hand lotion application</td></tr></tbody></table>Anyway, Stila's got a good, solid liquid lipstick in my opinion, but I think there's still room for some improvement. They've got some moisturizing ingredients in there like vitamin E and avocado oil, but after about 4 hours, they start to dry out my lips. They also get tacky if you apply too much; it's almost like they don't dry all the way, so one layer and done is the way to go. Then there's the whole wears-off-while-eating thing, but I still haven't found a liquid lipstick that lets me nom with impunity, so I can't bitch toooo much. And lastly, I wish they had a better color selection. They've got some nice colors, but they could really do with expanding their range.<br /><br />In case you're wondering, I like these soooooooo much better than the <a href="http://www.ratedbeautyblog.com/2015/03/makeup-review-anastasia-beverly-hills.html" target="_blank">Anastasia Liquid Lips colors I've tried</a>. However, Christine at Temptalia had a <a href="http://www.temptalia.com/anastasia-american-doll-liquid-lipstick-review-photos-swatches" target="_blank">good experience</a> with Anastasia's <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=467770167&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">American Doll</a>, so that one might be worth a shot?<br /><br /><b>Rated Beauty Grade</b>: B<br /><br /><b>Price</b>: $22 at <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=353773448&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Sephora</a>, <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=389638684&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Nordstrom</a>, <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=456504394&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Ulta</a>, <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=424307025&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Beauty.com</a><br /><br /><br /></div><div class="feedflare">
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</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RatedBeauty/~4/8cKb4wZk-XI" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Talinoreply@blogger.com0http://www.ratedbeautyblog.com/2015/04/review-stila-liquid-lipstick-beso-patina.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-828149925411267034.post-52223302582568267472015-04-22T12:53:00.002-05:002015-04-24T19:00:34.486-05:00Review: Blackbox Cosmetics Sea-Mask<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_WoIuh1Vg40/VTfZAumLk4I/AAAAAAAAA8g/AOEq0O4tHM8/s1600/blackboxseamask.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Blackbox Sea Mask Review" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_WoIuh1Vg40/VTfZAumLk4I/AAAAAAAAA8g/AOEq0O4tHM8/s1600/blackboxseamask.jpg" height="245" title="Blackbox Cosmetics Sea-Mask" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><b>Product</b>:&nbsp;<a href="https://shop.blackboxcosmetics.com/product-details?id=54&amp;ajax=true" target="_blank">Blackbox Cosmetics Sea-Mask</a><br /><br /><b>Review</b>: I've been on a mask kick this year, and I've felt very MEH about a lot of them. The problem with masks for me is that they usually promise the moon and the stars, but all you get is a muddy/masky face, some tingling, and extensive post-mask face scrubbing. Yes, mask makers. Of course my skin is softer now than it was before. I just scrubbed the ever-loving shit out of it with a washcloth trying to get the damn mask off...<br /><br />Anyway, I was expecting to be underwhelmed by Blackbox Cosmetic's Sea-Mask (why is there a goddamn hyphen in the name? GAH! It irks me!), but it's actually pretty fun to use. It has a very light, herbal scent to it that I don't find offensive, and I need less than expected to cover my whole face. You leave it on the standard 15-20 minutes, and in that time, it really tightens up. It tightens up so much that you can feel your heartbeat in your face, which I find entertaining. I like to think that it's really getting some circulation up in there.<br /><br /><a name='more'></a><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qyRs_H1PiZM/VTfZAtwcjGI/AAAAAAAAA8c/TtKaCH-2HMw/s1600/seamask2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Blackbox Sea-Mask Review" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qyRs_H1PiZM/VTfZAtwcjGI/AAAAAAAAA8c/TtKaCH-2HMw/s1600/seamask2.jpg" height="296" title="Blackbox Cosmetics Sea-Mask" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It dramatically tightens before you wash it off...&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table>Because of the tightening effect, when you go to the bathroom to wash it off, it's hilarious. I now know what I would look like with an awkward face lift... Or if I was born 100% white. My eyes are so wide and surprised! Fortunately, the initial tight look isn't permanent; it dissolves easily in warm water, so it's not a pain in the ass to remove, and your skin is left soft and healthy-looking. For me, I notice that the fine lines in my forehead aren't as noticeable after, so I think the odd tightening/suction sensation encourages more blood flow and plumps up the skin as a result.<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-663EJHyXZjM/VTfZAuEs_bI/AAAAAAAAA8Y/UD-sDLYkXc8/s1600/seamask1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Blackbox Sea-Mask Review" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-663EJHyXZjM/VTfZAuEs_bI/AAAAAAAAA8Y/UD-sDLYkXc8/s1600/seamask1.jpg" height="312" title="Blackbox Cosmetics Sea-Mask" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">This is after 5 uses. Still have about half left.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />As for the manufacturer claims, I'm not 100% sold,though I do find this mask to be more effective than others I've tried. Here's what Blackbox says about its product:<br /><br /><i>"Dramatically tighten facial skin and reduce pore size, immediately! Sea-Mask is our latest addition to the BlackBox Cosmetics' Restoration product line. Like all of our products, it is the most advanced facial product in its category. It contains three(3) forms of special sea algae harvested from pristine waters. These algaes are known for their ability to remove and eliminate toxins and bacteria. Sea-Mask contains super fruits, vitamins, aloe, the finest calcium-bentonite clay, and other special compounds. This wonderful combination will not only tighten, but leave your skin feeling incredibly soft. The effects last for days, so it is a wonderful way to give yourself a mini face lift. Unlike many face masques that are difficult to remove, Sea-Mask was developed for easy removal. Your skin will absolutely love this product!"</i><br /><br />I don't agree that it will give you a mini face lift after you wash it off. Make your skin look a bit plumper, sure. But a face lift effect that lasts for days? Nah. And the jar claims that it reduces pore size. It totally doesn't do that for me at all. Maybe I'd see a difference if my pores were larger? Either way, it's no miracle product, although I do think it's got <a href="http://blackboxcosmetics.com/?affiliate=td1206#/Sea-Mask/" target="_blank">great ingredients</a>,&nbsp;and it seems to actually improve the health of my skin without sucking every last bit of moisture out of it, which is more than I can say for a lot of masks out there. It also makes an AMAZING spot treatment for pimples. Dab it on your pimples, leave it on overnight, and then wash your face in the morning. Your pimples will either be mostly gone or really reduced in size and redness. Or at least, that's how it works for me.<br /><br />While I hate that it's in a jar container and not a tube, I'll probably buy it again unless I find a mask I like more in the same price point. Feel free to give me suggestions!<br /><br /><b>Rated Beauty Grade</b>: B<br /><br /><b>Price</b>: $18.95 - <a href="https://shop.blackboxcosmetics.com/TD1206" target="_blank">Blackbox Cosmetics</a>, $15.16 ISA<br /><br /><b>Refill Price</b>: $14.95 - <a href="https://shop.blackboxcosmetics.com/TD1206" target="_blank">Blackbox Cosmetics</a>, $11.96 ISA<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri; line-height: 19.6000003814697px;">Note/Disclaimer</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri; line-height: 19.6000003814697px;">: Blackbox has it set up so you can't buy anything without an ISA number. If you want, you can use mine ( TD1206) or google around for an ISA in your area. Please know that I'm an ISA so that I can try out Blackbox products less expensively, and I'm not and never will try to sell you anything. Just a heads up though, if you want to go the ISA route for the same reason I did or sell it in general, April is the month to do it! Starting in May, Blackbox is raising the enrollment fee to $99 instead of $45 due to needing more manpower to handle taxes on internet sales. :(</span></span><br /><br /></div><div class="feedflare">
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</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RatedBeauty/~4/vFiLSL8Uh1k" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Talinoreply@blogger.com2http://www.ratedbeautyblog.com/2015/04/review-blackbox-cosmetics-sea-mask.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-828149925411267034.post-47088178479365538632015-04-15T13:17:00.004-05:002015-04-24T18:59:12.027-05:00Review: Blackbox Cosmetics Infusion AM Serum<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://shop.blackboxcosmetics.com/TD1206" target="_blank"><img alt="Infusion Am Serum Review" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5Tc9MB96thc/VS6liuh4DrI/AAAAAAAAA78/gzlfx16PKs0/s1600/InfusionAMofficial.jpg" height="320" title="Blackbox Cosmetics Infusion AM Serum" width="240" /></a></div><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b>Product</b>:&nbsp;<a href="https://shop.blackboxcosmetics.com/product-details?id=2&amp;ajax=true" target="_blank">Blackbox Cosmetics Infusion AM Serum</a><br /><br /><b>Review</b>: This vitamin C serum from Blackbox is the reason I decided to try and review the whole Restoration Skin line. I got a little sample that I managed to stretch out for a week, and in about 3 days of using it, I could feel a difference in my skin. It was softer, the pores were less noticeable, and my combination skin started evening out. Also, it was super moisturizing. Much more so than a regular serum. I didn't like that the smell of it tends to linger for hours, but since it has a candy orange kind of smell, it wasn't unpleasant and it didn't trigger any headaches. So, I decided the pros outweighed the cons and bought the full size.<br /><br /><br /><a name='more'></a><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_LQCnHnJN1w/VS6li0S9E_I/AAAAAAAAA74/3TsVga_69o0/s1600/infusionAM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Infusion AM Review" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_LQCnHnJN1w/VS6li0S9E_I/AAAAAAAAA74/3TsVga_69o0/s1600/infusionAM.jpg" height="320" title="Blackbox Cosmetics Infusion AM Serum" width="201" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Real life packaging</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Now that I have the full sized .5 oz product, I have to say, I really love it. I've used it for the past month and a half, and and it's a must have product for me now. I like that it's more of a cream than a serum. I no longer feel like I need to apply 3 different moisturizing products to my sad winter skin in the morning! Instead, I apply about a half pump of the Infusion AM, and boom: my skin is super moisturized and ready for makeup. I definitely prefer it over the <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=2739323&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Ole Henriksen Truth Serum</a> I was using before, because it gives me similar results while being much more moisturizing.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jkMWu1O5UsE/VS6linVi8vI/AAAAAAAAA70/sw-MrfMdpL4/s1600/infusionAM1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Infusion AM Review" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jkMWu1O5UsE/VS6linVi8vI/AAAAAAAAA70/sw-MrfMdpL4/s1600/infusionAM1.jpg" height="320" title="Blackbox Cosmetics Infusion AM Serum" width="249" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It even looks like a regular moisturizer.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Like most skincare brands, Blackbox has some fairly lofty claims for this serum:<br /><br /><i>"Our AM product is a high-content Vitamin C serum containing 3 forms of this vital age-defying skin nutrient, including the new advanced Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate. In addition to being toxin free and organically preserved, it is loaded with super anti-oxidants and skin-tighteners. It is designed to protect your skin from harmful free radicals; while firming and improving the look and texture for a more youthful appearance. AM has incredible healing properties. Those with troubled skin will find it a must have skin-care product."</i><br /><i><br /></i>You'll note that unlike most Vitamin C serums out there, Blackbox doesn't claim theirs will fade your dark spots and freckles. They have other products for that. Instead, the emphasis is on skin repair, firming, and texture improvement, all of which this serum does beautifully.<br /><br />Since I'm using the whole skincare set, it's hard to tell which product is responsible for which benefit, so I went around a week only using the AM serum for moisture. I'm convinced that it does what it claims, because during that week, my skin continued to improve and I didn't notice any major changes. Also, they weren't kidding about it being healing. I got a scratch on my cheek that would normally have left a tiny scar or discoloration, but it healed completely and I can't even tell it was there. This never happens for me! I scar super easily and always have, so I'm impressed.<br /><br />There are some things that I'm not a fan of. First, there's the persistent scent. It took me a long time to get used to it, even though it didn't trigger my allergies. It's not a strong scent, but it's noticeable. If you don't like floral citrus candy smells, it might drive you bananas. Second, I dislike that you only get a .5 oz. I understand the reasoning behind it - Blackbox tries to keep their products as fresh as possible, kind of like Lush, so the smaller amounts are probably to keep the product from going bad before you can use it all. But still. I want more! And it might feel a little sticky if you apply too much. But that's an easy fix - just apply less. Other than that, I can't think of anything to bitch about.<br /><br />Here are the ingredients, for those of you interested:<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">"Aloe barbadensis (Organic Aloe Vera) Juice, Punica Granatum. L. (Organic Pomegranate) Distillate, Pure Vegetable Glycerin, Emulsifying Wax, Rosa mosqueta (Rosehip Seed Oil), Euterpe oleracea (Acai Berry) extract, Lycium Barbarum (Goji) FruitExtract, Morinda citrifolia (Organic Noni) Fruit Extract, Vanccinum angustifoilium (Wild Blueberry) Fruit Extract, Mangosteen(Garcinia Mangostana L.) Fruit Extract, Tocopherol (Vit. E), Butylene Glycol, Hydroxypropyltrimonium (Honeyquat), Ascorbyl Palmitate (Vit. C Ester), Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (Vit. C Ester), Dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE), Limnanthes alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Citrus auranium dulcis (Organic Orange) Fruit Extract, Aphanizomenon flos aquae(Bluegreen Algae) Estract, Citrus medica limonum (Organic Lemon) Extract, L-Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Centella asiatica (gotukola), CoQ10 (Coenzyme Q10), Microalgae Nannochloropsis Oculata (Algae Extract), Vaccinium myrtillus (Organic Bilberry)Extract, Beta Carotene (Pro Vit. A), Camellia sinensis (Green Tea EGCG(90%), Silybum marianum L Gaertn (Milk Thistle/Silymarin), Alpha Lipoic Acid/Thioctic Acid, Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Beta 1- 3 Glucan Yeast), Saccharum officinarum (OrganicSugar Cane) Extract, Acer saccharinum (Organic Sugar Maple) Extract, Salix nigra (Willow bark) Extract, d-Calcium Pantothenate (Panthenol Vit. B5), L-Arginine, Niacinamide (Vit. B3), Retinol Palmitate (Vit. A), Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide- NAD (Vit. B3), Olea europaea (Olive Leaf) Extract, Gingko Biloba (Gingko Leaf) Extract, Aspalathus linearis (Rooibos) Extract, Camellia sinensis (White Tea) Extract, Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary) Oleoresin, Azadirachta indica (Neem)Oil, Daucus carota (Carrot) Oil, Lecithin, Xanthan Gum (Polysaccharide gum), Tetrasodium EDTA, Citric Acid, essential fragrant oils."</span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>Lots of natural ingredients all up in there. Anyway, I'm a fan, and I think it would work well for all skintypes. You'd just use a smaller amount if you've got oily skin. Otherwise, I think it would take a bit longer to sink in. It does seem pricey on its own, but I think it's worth it for the results and it's nice that the refills are cheaper.<br /><br /><b>Rated Beauty Grade</b>: A<br /><br /><b>Price</b>: <a href="https://shop.blackboxcosmetics.com/TD1206" target="_blank">Full-size</a> - $41.25 MSRP, $32.95 Web, $26.36 ISA<br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <a href="https://shop.blackboxcosmetics.com/?category=1#gallery" target="_blank">Refills </a>- $23.95 Regular, $19.16 ISA<br /><br /><b>Note/Disclaimer</b>: Blackbox has it set up so you can't buy anything without an ISA number. If you want, you can use mine ( TD1206) or google around for an ISA in your area. Please know that I'm an ISA so that I can try out Blackbox products less expensively, and I'm not and never will try to sell you anything. Just a heads up though, if you want to go the ISA route for the same reason I did or sell it in general, April is the month to do it! Starting in May, Blackbox is raising the enrollment fee to $99 instead of $45 due to needing more manpower to handle taxes on internet sales. :(<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div class="feedflare">
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</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RatedBeauty/~4/PIILfinPgP0" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Talinoreply@blogger.com0http://www.ratedbeautyblog.com/2015/04/review-blackbox-cosmetics-infusion-am.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-828149925411267034.post-77612166081316178292015-04-14T14:37:00.000-05:002015-04-24T18:59:24.234-05:00Review: Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=435734952&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank"><img alt="Chocolate Soleil Review" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RO_bZP7-1tA/VS1pvDuCQ9I/AAAAAAAAA7k/ngWGFO-z994/s1600/toofacedchocolate.jpg" height="320" title="Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer" width="300" /></a><span id="goog_2043662382"></span><span id="goog_2043662383"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a></div><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b>Product</b>:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=435734952&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer</a><br /><br /><b>Review</b>: This is another "Seriously? I forgot to review this?" product, because I use it all. the. time. Omg. How have I failed this hard? I don't even know. Anyway, I kinda have a ladyboner for Too Faced products. I know they're not everyone's cup of tea depending on eyeshadow texture preferences (Too Faced's shadows tend to be pigmented but prone to fall-out, especially the glitter shades), but I've had awesome luck with them and have loved every Too Faced product I've tried thus far, <a href="http://www.ratedbeautyblog.com/2014/12/makeup-review-too-faced-3-way-lash.html" target="_blank">with one exception</a>.<br /><br />Their Chocolate Soleil Bronzer is THE bronzer I use on a regular basis. It has replaced all my other bronzers in my daily makeup rotation. I think I used it almost every day last year, and the only reason I stopped was because I bought the <a href="http://www.ratedbeautyblog.com/2015/01/makeup-review-anastasia-beverly-hills.html" target="_blank">Anastasia Contour Palette</a>. Even now, I find myself grabbing for my Chocolate Soleil in the morning, because I never have to worry about it looking too orangey and I love the smell. Actually, I love pretty much everything about it. It's a lovely bronzer that isn't too warm-toned. It's not too light or too dark, and it has a matte/satin finish. No glittery sparkle!! So you can use it for contouring, which I do fairly often. It's very pigmented, the powder is finely milled, and the wear time is excellent. Plus, it smells like chocolate, which makes me happy. Keep in mind, it's definitely a bronzer shade, not a specialized contour shade, but I still use it for contouring when I want subtler definition and all over warmth.<br /><br /><br /><a name='more'></a><br /><br /><br />At $30, it is a bit pricey, especially when there are a lot of decent drugstore bronzer options out there. But if it's in your price range, it's worth the money, in my opinion. You get a lot of quality product for that amount, so that initial $30 will last you a long time. Like I said, I used it almost every day for a year and I haven't hit pan.<br /><br />Originally, my only complaint was that I wished it was darker so I could get a more dramatic contour in the summer when I'm tan. However, they released a new <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=474665112&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Dark Chocolate Soleil</a> this year, which I plan to make my new summer bronzer. If you're on the fair-to-light side of the spectrum, they also make a <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=435734279&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Milk Chocolate Soleil</a> shade. Yay! Bronzers for all!<br /><br />Just a heads up, it's made with talc: if you're allergic, you'll want to avoid this one.<br /><br /><b>Rated Grade</b>: A<br /><br /><b>Price</b>: $30 at <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=45885442&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Sephora</a>, <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=435734952&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Macy's</a>, <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=425708842&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Ulta</a>, <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=429661534&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Beauty.com</a><br /><br /></div><script> (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-59324634-1', 'auto'); ga('send', 'pageview'); </script></div><div class="feedflare">
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</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RatedBeauty/~4/l_Q_GxVU-94" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Talinoreply@blogger.com0http://www.ratedbeautyblog.com/2015/04/review-too-faced-chocolate-soleil.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-828149925411267034.post-32436784791675412802015-04-13T12:52:00.000-05:002015-04-24T18:59:53.557-05:00Review: Lumene Time Freeze Anti-Age Color Correcting CC Cream<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=441617841&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Aax1IMBJ_5c/VSv-Sgp6b1I/AAAAAAAAA7U/HudvMZRMzeA/s1600/lumene.jpg" height="320" width="189" /></a></div><br /><br /><b>Product</b>:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=441617841&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">&nbsp;Lumene Time Freeze Anti-Age Color Correcting CC Cream</a><br /><br /><b>Review</b>: I have a hardcore love/hate relationship with this stuff. I bought it a while ago to see if it was a workable alternative to my <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=235606549&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Dr. Jart's BB</a> and <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=327398709&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">NARS Tinted Moisturizer</a>. Aaaand... it's not, really. It's not good fit for my dry skin at all. It's not moisturizing, so I definitely need to slather a moisturizer on beforehand, and it settles into every fine line and highlights every single imperfection. It's very easy to look cakey with this product. I also don't think it does much for your skin other than provide some SPF, and it's got a strong, perfumey scent that lingers for ages. It's not a bad scent, but I don't like being able to smell my face for hours.<br /><br />On the other hand, this little CC cream does an AMAZING job evening out my skintone and eliminating redness. It only comes in 2 generic neutral shades, so I have it in both Medium for summer and Light for the winter. It's more of a medium-coverage foundation than it is a CC cream, and man, does it make the color of my face look great. Plus, it has awesome staying power. My face always looks just as color-controlled at night as it did in the morning. The price doesn't hurt either. It's so cheap compared to the other foundations and CC/BB creams I have, and since it's a drugstore product, it occasionally goes on sale.<br /><br /><a name='more'></a><br /><br /><br />I would say that this would be much better for people with pinkish normal-oily skin with minimal fine lines and facial imperfections. It's just such a pain in the ass to make perfect on its own. That said, I ran into another awesome <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiiHWmdICvM" target="_blank">Wayne Goss tip</a>: put a single drop of skin-friendly oil into your foundation to make it apply better. Works like magic. Just put the amount of foundation you need for the day on the back of your hand, add a drop of oil, mix it with a finger, and then use a brush or <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=379224542&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">BeautyBlender</a> to apply it to your face. Done.<br /><br />It's insane how one drop of oil can make a mediocre product apply like a $40+ one, and it's a perfect way to use up face oil samples. I have a deluxe sample of the <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=458091985&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Fresh Seaberry Moisturizing Face Oil </a>that I'm using with the Lumene CC Cream, and the effects really are gorgeous. So luminous! So dewy! So natural-looking! So yeah. If you have any foundations that tend to look cakey, totally try adding a drop of jojoba oil or similar. Insta-fix!<br /><br />All in all, if you've got redness issues, it's a solid option. You get a good amount, it's more affordable than most foundations/CC creams you see on Sephora, and it will give you all-day coverage. Just add in a drop of face oil if you have dry skin. Personally, I don't think I'll buy it again after I run out. This is my "use when traveling so I won't cry if I lose it" CC cream. It's fine for now, but there are better products out there.<br /><br /><b>Rated Beauty Grade</b>: C+<br /><br /><b>Price</b>: $15ish at <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=441617841&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Drugstore.com</a>, <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=439607086&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Walgreens</a><br /><br /></div><script> (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-59324634-1', 'auto'); ga('send', 'pageview'); </script> </div><div class="feedflare">
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</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RatedBeauty/~4/77KSiH9XDOU" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Talinoreply@blogger.com0http://www.ratedbeautyblog.com/2015/04/review-lumene-time-freeze-cc-cream.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-828149925411267034.post-83376957436154575432015-04-01T14:07:00.003-05:002015-04-24T19:00:09.409-05:00Skincare Review: Blackbox Cosmetics Frost Face Wash<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://shop.blackboxcosmetics.com/product-details?id=14&amp;ajax=true" target="_blank"><img alt="sulfate free face wash" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hAGohUHPA50/VRw88KakC1I/AAAAAAAAA6w/0aSNrCYhmCc/s1600/Frost3.JPG" height="320" title="blackbox cosmetics frost face wash" width="240" /></a></div><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b>Product</b>:&nbsp;<a href="https://shop.blackboxcosmetics.com/product-details?id=14&amp;ajax=true" target="_blank">Blackbox Cosmetics Frost Face Wash</a><br /><br /><b>Review</b>: I have 3 basic qualifications for facial cleansers. They need to get every bit of makeup off my face, rinse clean, and not dry out my skin. I feel like that should be pretty easy to accomplish, but I can't tell you how many times I've been bummed out by cleansers. That said, the Frost Face Wash by <a href="https://shop.blackboxcosmetics.com/TD1206" target="_blank">Blackbox Cosmetics</a> is a solid choice. Here's what they say about their product:<br /><br /><i>"Our face wash truly is unrivaled in its category. Containing so many nutrients and super anti-oxidants (like all of our products), it must be packaged in an airless container. "FROST" Face Wash is definitely at home in our family of Cosmeceuticals. It is a powerful product on its own and is full of Vitamin C, Niacinamide(B3), Beta Carotene(Vit.A), Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Panthenol (B5), Organic Aloe Vera, Willow Bark, Coconut oil, Pomegranate extract, Green Tea extract, and Tea Tree oil. Not only does it leave your face feeling cool, clean, and soft... it has a large dose of natural skin bacteria killers and it is non-comedogenic. Frost does not contain harmful sulfates or parabens. It is organically preserved."</i><br /><br /><a name='more'></a><br /><br /> Here are the ingredients:<br /><i>Aloe barbadensis (Organic Aloe) Juice, Vegetable Glycerin, Ammonium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate, Lauryl Glucoside,Camellia sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Cocoglucoside, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycol Stearate, Decyl Glucoside, CocamidopropylHydroxysultaine, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamide MIPA, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate, Ascorbic Acid(Vitamin C), d-Calcium Pantothenate (Panthenol Vitamin B5), Aphanizomenon flos aquae Extract (Blue Green Algae), Niacinamide (Vitamin B3),Beta Carotene (Pro Vitamin A), Salix nigra (Willowbark) Extract, Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree) Essential Oil, Gingko Biloba Leaf Extract, Oleaeuropaea (Olive) Leaf Extract, Aspalathus linearis (Rooibos) Leaf Extract, Camellia sinesis (White Tea) Leaf Extract, Aminopropyl AscorbylPhosphate (Vitamin C), Rosemary Oleoresin, Polysorbate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Essential Fragrance Oils</i><br /><i><br /></i>All sorts of really great things, right? I absolutely LOVE that it's aloe-based (like all Blackbox Cosmetics' products) and is sulfate free. I know that is a huge issue for some people, and it's actually something 2 of my best friends deal with on the regular. This product is a wonderful option for the sulfate-sensitive. It smells faintly minty, lathers a little bit, and rinses clean. And it cleans the hell out of your skin. When I wash my face (I always use a soft washcloth), after I rinse, there's not a hint of makeup or cleanser residue to be found. Plus, there's the added bonus of tiny bits of bacteria-killing essential oils for those who are pimple/acne prone, but without any tingling or stinging. It's quite gentle, in that regard. Very inoffensive.<br /><br />The packaging is the standard acrylic Blackbox air &amp; light free pump container. You can actually remove the product canister by prying the silver part up and then replace it with a re-fill when you run out, which is nice. Refills are $11.95 vs $14.95 for the whole shebang (regular web price), so while it's not &nbsp;huge difference, at least you're saving the environment a little. Those canisters are apparently recyclable.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://shop.blackboxcosmetics.com/TD1206" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="best sulfate free face wash" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uqehwe-zfS8/VRw88A6U4HI/AAAAAAAAA6o/hEGJrVkBIVo/s1600/frost1.jpg" height="640" title="blackbox cosmetics frost " width="244" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What it looks like in real life</td></tr></tbody></table>The product itself is colorless and looks like a normal, standard face wash. There's nothing strange or unique about the texture, the lather, or even the scent. You really only need about a pea-sized amount (1 pump), so I expect the 1.7 oz container will last me a minimum of 3 months or so.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://shop.blackboxcosmetics.com/TD1206" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="frost face wash" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q5VxahZ8R_A/VRw88Efg65I/AAAAAAAAA6s/xUvrK_8lyfY/s1600/frost.jpg" height="320" title="blackbox cosmetics frost" width="250" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1 pump's worth of product</td></tr></tbody></table>I think this is a very solid product, and I do like it a lot, with one caveat. It dries out my face a little. Not a lot, but I have to make sure I slap the serums etc. on immediately after or else I can feel that dry, tightening sensation, which I hate. As long as you wear moisturizer (which everyone should be doing, because duh), I think you should be fine. Also, I have a hard time believing all the extra goodies in the cleanser do much for my skin since it's only on my face such a short time before I rinse it off. Maybe that's just me?<br /><br />Overall, I would recommend this to anyone who is allergic to sulfates, has acne/breakouts, and has normal-oily skin. People with dry skin can totally use this with great results, but they might have to up the moisturizer to combat the minimal-moderate drying effect. I would say it's comparable to <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=285281736&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Origin's Checks and Balances</a>: pretty much the same results, but Frost isn't as frothy or creamy, and is way less minty. Personally, I think I prefer <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=123663034&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Boscia Makeup-Breakup Cool Cleansing Oil</a> for myself in the winter, because it works just as well without the drying factor. I do think I'll go back to Frost in the summer though, because I'm much more oily then and it's rather refreshing.<br /><br /><b>Rated Beauty Grade</b>: B+<br /><br /><b>Price</b>: $18.95-MSRP, $14.95- Web, $11.95- ISA at <a href="https://shop.blackboxcosmetics.com/TD1206" target="_blank">Blackbox Cosmetics</a><br /><br /><b>Refills</b>: $11.95-Web, $9.95-ISA at <a href="https://shop.blackboxcosmetics.com/TD1206" target="_blank">Blackbox Cosmetics</a><br /><br /><b style="font-size: small;">Disclaimer</b><span style="font-size: x-small;">: I am technically a Blackbox Independent Sales Associate (ISA) so that I could try the products out at a cheaper price because this brand has intrigued me for a while. All the links are to my replicated Blackbox shopping cart because you can only buy from Blackbox with an ISA sponsor code and using mine is a) easier for me to find for links and b) more convenient for you so you don't have to Google around for an ISA code. Yes, I'll get a little bit back in commissions if &nbsp;you buy something using my code and I'll happily support you if you go the ISA route like I did, but you do you! If you want to find another ISA, Google will help you out! I'm not and never will be doing this to sell you something.</span><br /><br /></div><script> (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-59324634-1', 'auto'); ga('send', 'pageview'); </script></div><div class="feedflare">
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</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RatedBeauty/~4/z9yr4uKNXKI" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Talinoreply@blogger.com0http://www.ratedbeautyblog.com/2015/04/blackbox-cosmetics-frost-review.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-828149925411267034.post-55517995758808830852015-03-31T13:58:00.000-05:002015-04-24T19:00:45.742-05:00Makeup Review: Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick- Pure Hollywood, Carina, Sadgirl<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=467770167&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Anastasia Sad Girl" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qDeoU4pqffI/VRr0lDYnaPI/AAAAAAAAA6U/936ZZJyhsPc/s1600/sadgirl.jpg" title="Anastasia Liquid Lipstick Review" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anastasia Sad Girl</td></tr></tbody></table><b><br /></b><b>Product</b>:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=467770167&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick in Pure Hollywood, Carina, Sadgirl</a><br /><div><br /></div><div><b>Review</b>: I love lipstick. Especially liquid lipsticks. Much to my eternal sadness, my boyfriend does not. He hates unnatural-looking lip colors (and by that, he means all of them) and thinks red is an "old lady color." In a surprisingly literal way. If someone is wearing red lipstick, he honest to god thinks they are 15-30 years older than they are. One of my favorite games is to point out girls wearing red lipstick who are obviously (to everyone not my boyfriend) in their early-mid 20s and ask him how old they are. He will, with furrowed brow, hold an internal debate with himself, knowing that his answer is going to be way off because of the lipstick. 90% of the time, he goes with a "conservative" 35-40 years. He does the same thing with dark, vampy lipstick. It never fails to amuse the hell out of me.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>This fun boyfriend fact is the major reason I don't review a lot of lipstick on this blog- I got so used to not wearing it around him! However, times are a changin', because I'm sick and tired of denying my inner lipstick-loving makeup beast that needs to have all the pretty colors on her face. I see all these glorious lipstick shades on Instagram, and holy hell, do I covet the shit out of them. My lipstick beast must be appeased!&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>And that is why I recently bought 3 shades of <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=467770167&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Anastasia's Liquid Lipsticks</a>, even after seeing some not so favorable but incredibly honest reviews, like <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZhEGTSS4h4" target="_blank">this one</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4YkTiDyBY8" target="_blank">this one</a>. The colors in the collection are just so gorgeous, and no matter how hard I tried to be reasonable and rational, I just had to have them. I kept seeing them everywhere on people who raved about them, and the colors were taunting me, so I succumbed in a moment of weakness and bought <a href="http://www.temptalia.com/product/anastasia-liquid-lipstick/pure-hollywood" target="_blank">Pure Hollywood</a>, <a href="http://www.personallypaige.com/2015/02/beauty-anastasia-beverly-hills-liquid.html" target="_blank">Carina</a>, and <a href="https://theregalnessproject.wordpress.com/2015/01/24/liquid-lipstick-review-anastasias-sad-girl/" target="_blank">Sad Girl</a>. Picking only 3 was agonizing for me, because I wanted all of them, but I decided on a light, mid-range, and dark color that weren't too similar to any lipsticks in my collection.&nbsp;</div><div><br /><a name='more'></a><br /></div><div>In case you were wondering, here's what the Anastasia website says about these liquid lipsticks:&nbsp;</div><div><i>"Full coverage, intense pigment, and a matte finish in an easy-to-apply liquid formula. One sweep delivers vibrant long-wearing color that sets all day. Formula is ultra-pigmented. Swirl wand around tube to evenly mix color before application."</i><br />You can also watch Norvina/Claudia of ABH talk about and swatch the products <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkkJBtBaYZQ" target="_blank">here</a>.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>I was not totally enthused about needing to evenly mix color in a $20 product, but Norvina is just so adorable, I was willing to make an exception. She seems like she cares so much and puts a ton of thought into everything about her product lines, you know? But... my experience with my new lipsticks were not in line with what I was expecting based on all the pics and reviews I'd seen, to put it gently.</div><div><br /></div><div>I can still say a couple of nice things about these products. They don't really have a smell, which is awesome for the scent-sensitive among us, myself included. There's maybe a faint chemical smell that dissipates as soon as the product dries on the lips, but that's it. They're also reasonably pleasant to wear. Sad Girl is really comfortable if not applied too thick. I wore it for around 7 hours, and my lips felt great. I'm currently wearing Carina, which is a little more drying (Norvina warned about that in her video linked above), but with a blotted lipbalm under it, it feels almost as good as Sad Girl and the wear doesn't seem to be affected. I'm also impressed with the colors themselves - what you see in the tube is pretty much what you get on your lips, and they sort of dry matte without any color warping. &nbsp;Both Carina and Sad Girl look amazing! Pure Hollywood looks amazing on people who are not me. For some reason, it winds up looking like a light tan on me, which is not cute. What is cute is to mix Pure Hollywood and Carina to create a lovely pink shade that is a bit more muted for workwear. So pretty!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jAmxn7iPL90/VTmtBwYz-FI/AAAAAAAAA9Q/7xuPUmzB3BE/s1600/carinaandpurehollywood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Carina Pure Hollywood Swatch" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jAmxn7iPL90/VTmtBwYz-FI/AAAAAAAAA9Q/7xuPUmzB3BE/s1600/carinaandpurehollywood.jpg" height="204" title="Anastasia Liquid Lipstick Carina and Pure Hollywood" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Carina + Pure Hollywood. Ignore my unedited peach fuzz</span><span style="font-size: small;">.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Sadly, for everything I liked, there was another thing I disliked. First off, they are not easy to apply! Especially Sad Girl. I mean, I'm realistic. No matter what, liquid lipsticks are going to take a bit more patience and care to apply than your average tube. But these drove me bonkers, because even with a lot of shaking and blending the product with the applicator wand, they still applied streaky! Carina was the worst offender, because not only was it streaky but it came with actual pigment clumps, which made my lips look like they were flaking and kind of gross. Sad Girl, while absolutely gorgeous in color and feel, took me forever to get right. So streaky, so uneven, and more runny so it was harder to control. Not only do you definitely need a similarly-colored lip liner for it, but you also need to clean up the edges with concealer. No matter what tactic I tried, there was no way around it. And the wand itself exacerbates the uneven application issue. The best result I got was to scrape the product off the doe-foot applicator onto the back of my hand and apply it carefully with a fingertip. It was annoying. I felt like I spent a lot time trying to troubleshoot streaking and uneven application issues when I have none of the same issues with my <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=389638684&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Stila Stay-All-Days</a>&nbsp;(<a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=389638684&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Patina </a>is my current go-to on days when I go heavy on the dark eye makeup).<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bgveha3IAAE/VTmtjIqMb7I/AAAAAAAAA9Y/_MYZwFvl-IU/s1600/anastasialiquidlips1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Pure Hollywood, Carina, Sad Girl Swatches" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bgveha3IAAE/VTmtjIqMb7I/AAAAAAAAA9Y/_MYZwFvl-IU/s1600/anastasialiquidlips1.jpg" title="Anastasia Liquid Lipstick Swatch - Pure Hollywood, Carina, Sad Girl" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swatches w/ 1 coat. Very true to color. &nbsp;Notice how there's a little bleeding with Carina. <br />Top to Bottom: Pure Hollywood, Carina, Sad Girl</td></tr></tbody></table><br />You also need to apply these liquid lipsticks with a light hand. If you apply too many layers, they feel like they don't dry all the way and feel tacky/sticky, leading to lots of transference and coming off in clumps, in Carina's case. Unfortunately, if you don't apply more product, the lighter colors seep into every crack in your lips, no matter how hydrated and exfoliated they are. And then it clumps there, which is noticeable when you smile. When I was experimenting with them, it was like the more I applied to fix the streaky application, the shorter time they would last on my lips. So frustrating, because I want to love them so much! And I feel that for $20, you shouldn't have to spend so much time troubleshooting your lipstick only to wind up with lackluster longevity and uneven wear. Oh, that's another thing. These lipsticks are basically only good if you don't plan on eating and drinking all day, because they're not trustworthy when it comes to food. Drinking water is fine, but pretty much anything else will lead to heavy transference and reapplication. &nbsp;And how is it that a liquid lipstick manages to get on my teeth? I don't understand!<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ot0YsweXTks/VTmtjX75OfI/AAAAAAAAA9c/svEAI_k6T-g/s1600/anastasialiquidlips.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Pure Hollywood, Carina, Sad Girl Swatches with Smudging" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ot0YsweXTks/VTmtjX75OfI/AAAAAAAAA9c/svEAI_k6T-g/s1600/anastasialiquidlips.jpeg" title="Anastasia Liquid Lipstick Swatch - Pure Hollywood, Carina, Sad Girl" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is about 6 hours later of air and typing, taken at night, so I apologize for the awful blue cast. <br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">In the pic above, you can see how Carina and Pure Hollywood still look a little wet. The smudging was done by gently brushing a finger over the swatches, both directions. Carina looks awful from just that! Transfer on lips was WAY worse with Sad Girl, but it held up on my hand for some reason. Maybe because it was a thinner layer? I have no idea. I didn't use balm under Sad Girl on my lips, so you'd think I wouldn't have had so many issues with it. Goddamn, it's a gorgeous color though.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div>In closing, I really, reeeaaalllyyy tried to make them work, but 2 of the 3 are being returned this weekend. I just can't quit Sad Girl. It's just so vampy and unique. I can't give it up, even though my boyfriend says I look 45 when I wear it. FML.</div><div><br />Unfortunately, I wouldn't recommend these lipsticks, unless you are fine with relying on lots of lipliner to camouflage the streaking, higher-than-normal amounts of transference, tacky-feeling lips, and product clumping into lip lines on the lighter shades. I totally understand if you are willing to deal with all the pitfalls for a color though. Anastasia's shades are just incredible. It's a pity the formula/production consistency needs more work. At least for the 3 shades I tried.<br /><br /><b>Rated Beauty Grade</b>: C- for Carina, C+ for Pure Hollywood, C+/B- Sad Girl (I've heard some of the darker, non-Sad Girl shades apply better, and there are formula differences between the light and dark shades, so I'm grading them based on shade this time)<br /><br /><b>Price</b>: $20 at <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=467770167&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Macy's</a>. I'd suggest avoiding the <a href="http://anastasiabeverlyhills.com/" target="_blank">Anastasia</a> website until the demand dies down. 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</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RatedBeauty/~4/ILaD6SsV_Pg" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Talinoreply@blogger.com0http://www.ratedbeautyblog.com/2015/03/makeup-review-anastasia-beverly-hills.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-828149925411267034.post-204548859926472182015-03-25T19:54:00.000-05:002015-04-24T19:00:54.765-05:00Makeup Review: NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=324999953&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank"><img src="http://bim.shopstyle.com/pim/10/4d/104d7ee43ddb077c8ca390145a679810_best.jpg" height="320" width="147" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Product</b>:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=324999953&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer, SPF 30</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Review</b>: I've had my makeup done at <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=330875747&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Sephora </a>around 6 times, and I'm always underwhelmed. The last time I tried one of those "VIB mini makeover" specials, the fresh-from-Aveda girl who did my face slathered way too much moisturizer on me and didn't allow it to absorb, so when she attempted to apply foundation, it balled up in gross chunks the more she tried to blend it in. Instead of taking it off and starting over, she added some extra eyeshadow and told me I was good to go. I looked in the mirror and was like, "WTF. No. It looks like my skin is falling off!" so I made her re-do it. I mean, come on. Don't call yourself a pro and pull that shit. No thanks, I'll apply my own makeup.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Fast forward to last Sunday. I went to the Mall of America for some much needed "me" time and decided to play with all the things in Sephora. As I've talked about before, I have rosacea and a little keratosis pilaris on my face, which makes me super red. I hate it, and I do a lot to try to hide the red blotchiness. Since it's more noticeable when I'm paler, I've been Frankensteining my foundations and CC/BB creams together every morning to get enough coverage with a redness-canceling color that isn't too yellow. I originally planned to buy the <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=176508211&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Guerlain Lingerie de Peau</a> foundation but they'd stopped carrying it instore, so I then decided that the <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=317128093&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Tarte Amazonion Clay 12 Hour Foundation</a>&nbsp;was the way to go, based on the coverage and lower price point. I have a darker color in the Tarte foundation for summer use that I like, so I decided to get a lighter winter/spring shade and a worthwhile concealer for the extra red areas.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><a name='more'></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Just as I was about to swatch products all over my jawline, I was wrangled into letting their lead makeup person do the matching for me. At first, I was unenthused, but when she grabbed the perfect concealer shades for me just by eyeballing my face, I changed my tune. Her application technique was solid, and the entire time she was applying concealer, she oohed and aaahed over how smooth and pretty my skin was, even though I see it as the opposite. But it was nice to hear, and she seemed to know what she was talking about when it came to normal makeup talk. When I mentioned I wanted a color match for a Tarte foundation, she was all like, "And cover up all this pretty skin? NOOOO! The horror!"&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">She talked me into letting her apply NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer on me instead, since I mentioned how much I loved the magical wondrousness of the Guerlain Lingerie de Peau. Totally didn't think it would work, but when she let me look in the mirror, I was shocked at how beautiful my skin looked. All my redness and blotchiness was disguised, but you could still see my freckles. She did a tiny bit of contour, highlight, and blush, and left my previously applied light eye makeup alone. I immediately bought the NARS moisturizer, and have been wearing it ever since. And thus concludes my story of how I actually got great makeup from a Sephora worker.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This product is an amazing foundation alternative. It's soooo moisturizing and perfect for my dry winter face. I use a pea-sized amount of the color Groenland and the <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=447148937&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Real Techniques Buffing Brush</a> to gently stipple and press it into my skin (and yes, I know the buffing brush is supposed to be for mineral foundation. My normal stippling brush was dirty, so I tried the buffing brush since it was clean, and it works as good or better, so I'm sticking with it). Boom! No more redness, and my skin looks even, luminous, and naturally beautiful. After setting it with a little powder, it stays perfect all day long without primer.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">On the technical side of things, it's very creamy and super pigmented without a noticeable smell. It applies smoothly and dries to a dewy satin finish. It seems to minimize pores, and it is incredible for color correction while still letting your skin show through. Coverage is buildable, probably up to medium. It also has SPF 30, of which I am a fan. Whenever I can cut out steps from my morning routine, I'm happy. To give you an idea of how well it works, here is a pic of what my skin looks like on a normal day:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nK1_z6q8Z3w/VRNO-p5NDxI/AAAAAAAAA54/SilXedLTzn0/s1600/20150227_001302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nK1_z6q8Z3w/VRNO-p5NDxI/AAAAAAAAA54/SilXedLTzn0/s1600/20150227_001302.jpg" height="311" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before - Ugh, so red and so sad. Taken approximately 3 weeks ago, so those zits have cleared up.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>This is what it looks like lightly made up with NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UTr9Yd7eKfg/VRNPbOf3TII/AAAAAAAAA6A/T_QSOAEBqIs/s1600/20150322_150456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="nars pure radiant tinted moisturizer review" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UTr9Yd7eKfg/VRNPbOf3TII/AAAAAAAAA6A/T_QSOAEBqIs/s1600/20150322_150456.jpg" height="640" title="nars pure radiant tinted moisturizer groenland" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After - no more redness! Not too shiny!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sorry for the totally different lighting in both pics, but you can still see how not red and even my skin looks in the after, with a slight hint of freckles. It's like night and day. Both are 100% unedited.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Due to how hydrating it is and the dewy finish, I don't think it would be as compatible with oily skin types, but is a great option for those with dry skin who are looking for light coverage and a foundation that doesn't feel like foundation. I haven't had any breakouts from it and am completely in love with how natural it looks. <br /><br /><b>Rated Beauty Grade</b>: A<br /><br /><b>Price</b>: $43 at <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=330875747&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Sephora</a>, <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=324999953&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Nordstrom</a>, <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=331583231&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Bloomingdales</a>, <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=331595430&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Beauty.com</a>, <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=409451464&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">NARS Cosmetics</a><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><script> (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-59324634-1', 'auto'); ga('send', 'pageview'); </script></div><div class="feedflare">
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</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RatedBeauty/~4/4SKjbqnLnJc" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Talinoreply@blogger.com0http://www.ratedbeautyblog.com/2015/03/makeup-review-nars-pure-radiant-tinted.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-828149925411267034.post-29781076192116671832015-03-18T11:43:00.001-05:002015-04-24T19:01:10.588-05:00Skincare Review: Blackbox Cosmetics 6 Minute Miracle Microdermabrasion Treatment<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://shop.blackboxcosmetics.com/product-details?id=4&amp;ajax=true" target="_blank"><img alt="best microdermabrasion treatment" src="https://shop.blackboxcosmetics.com/upload/product/6mm_15ml_medium.jpg" title="Blackbox Cosmetics 6 Minute Miracle Microdermabrasion Treatment" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Product</b>:&nbsp;<a href="https://shop.blackboxcosmetics.com/TD1206" target="_blank">Blackbox Cosmetics 6 Minute Miracle Microdermabrasion Treatment</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Review</b>: This is the first product I tried from the Blackbox Cosmetics line I wrote about a little bit ago, and it's one of my favorites out of the<a href="http://www.ratedbeautyblog.com/2015/03/first-impressions-blackbox-cosmetics.html" target="_blank"> Restoration Skin Kit</a>. First off, the container is really pretty and looks very high end. I think the font choice isn't in line with the rest of the look, but whatever. I'm nitpicky and I know it. The above picture is the one from the website. This is what it looks like in real life:<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://shop.blackboxcosmetics.com/TD1206" target="_blank"><img alt="Best microdermabrasion treatment" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pITVaJazj3M/VQmXl826SWI/AAAAAAAAA4o/l20cbAQTcu4/s1600/6minutemiracle1.jpg" height="320" title="Blackbox Cosmetics 6 Minute Miracle Microdermabrasion Treatment" width="240" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://shop.blackboxcosmetics.com/TD1206" target="_blank"><img alt="best microdermabrasion treatment" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xBJ--7L09OY/VQmXl71ASOI/AAAAAAAAA4s/vkoJLHYNXF8/s1600/6minutemiracle.jpg" height="234" title="Blackbox Cosmetics 6 Minute Miracle Microdermabrasion Treatment" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://shop.blackboxcosmetics.com/TD1206" target="_blank">Notice the different wording. HA!</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><a name='more'></a><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Very pretty container, right? I love how it looks. However, I don't like that it's not a screw-top. Instead, it has those little interlocking things you see on some blenders and you have to have it lined up perfectly, otherwise the lid is loose. It's impractical, and I don't understand why a company that prides itself on its light-proof, air-tight product dispensers for the serums and lotions would put its masks and microdermabrasion treatment in jars like this. Inconsistencies annoy me!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://shop.blackboxcosmetics.com/TD1206" target="_blank"><img alt="best microdermabrasion treatment" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UNFsxe49kfs/VQmZUtZmqgI/AAAAAAAAA48/be0dQfqOrIA/s1600/6minutemiracle3.jpg" height="320" title="Blackbox Cosmetics 6 Minute Miracle Microdermabrasion Treatment" width="240" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://shop.blackboxcosmetics.com/TD1206" target="_blank">Weird inter-locking lid part</a></td></tr></tbody></table>On the plus side, the microdermabrasion product itself is amazing. It feels like an actual spa treatment. The density of tiny exfoliating particles is much higher than in other microdermabrasion products I've tried, and you don't need much to scrub every dead cell off your face. Because I swear that's what it does. Every dead cell. Not in 6 minutes but in 3, which is what they actually recommend you start out with. My skin looks glorious after using it and following it up with the <a href="https://shop.blackboxcosmetics.com/product-details?id=14&amp;ajax=true" target="_blank">Frost facewash</a> (they suggest you wash your face after to make sure all the microdermabrasion crystals are gone to prevent irritation). It looks noticeably healthier, brighter, my pores look a bit smaller, and the appearance of my fine lines are reduced. No trace of winter skin flakes to be found! Also, it smells like margaritas, so every time I use it, I am automatically happier than when I started.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://shop.blackboxcosmetics.com/TD1206" target="_blank"><img alt="Best microdermabrasion treatment" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pJEV3Ax_tPA/VQmZUuy4CaI/AAAAAAAAA5A/xJxyVc-if9I/s1600/6minutemiracle2.jpg" height="239" title="Blackbox Cosmetics 6 Minute Miracle Microdermabrasion Treatment" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://shop.blackboxcosmetics.com/TD1206" target="_blank">This is after 4 uses. Barely made a dent.&nbsp;</a></td></tr></tbody></table>When it comes to exfoliation, this is hands down the most effective microdermabrasion product I've ever tried. I still like to mix it up and use my <a href="http://www.ratedbeautyblog.com/2015/01/skincare-review-ole-henriksen-walnut.html" target="_blank">Ole Henriksen Walnut Scrub</a> from time to time, because while it's not as great an exfoliator, it cleans out my pores, which is something the 6 Minute Miracle doesn't really do for me. However, that's not what it's intended to do. Here's the actual site claim:<br /><br /><i>"An original... 6 Minute Miracle was created to bring the value of microdermabrasion and its renewing effects, closer to home. 6MM contains a variety of skin-plumping compounds and botanicals to help give a quick and natural mini face lift, while improving the long-term look, feel, and health of your skin. Users are amazed with the revolutionary immediate results given by our "Microdermabrasion in a jar"! This incredible product reduces fine lines, damaged skin, and age spots... while promoting collagen production. Many of our users love the effects 6MM has on their hands and other body parts that are starting to show significant signs of aging."</i><br /><i><br /></i>You can see the ingredient list and directions <a href="http://blackboxcosmetics.com/?affiliate=td1206#/6MinuteMiracle/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /><br />In closing, I think it lives up to its claims, and this is one of my favorite products from Blackbox Cosmetics. I'm impressed with how well it works for my skin; it's so effective, smells amazing, and doesn't mess with my rosacea, so I'll definitely be repurchasing it once I get through this jar. Irritating lid closure notwithstanding.<br /><br /><b>Rated Beauty Grade</b>: A<br /><br /><b>Price</b>: MSRP - 34.95, Web Price - $24.95, Wholesale/ISA Price - $19.96 at <a href="https://shop.blackboxcosmetics.com/TD1206" target="_blank">Blackbox Cosmetics</a>&nbsp;(sponsor code: TD1206)<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Disclaimer</b>: I am technically a Blackbox Independent Sales Associate (ISA) so that I could try the products out at a cheaper price because this brand has intrigued me for a while. All the links are to my replicated Blackbox shopping cart because you can only buy from Blackbox with an ISA sponsor code and using mine is a) easier for me to find for links and b) more convenient for you so you don't have to google around for an ISA code if you want to buy something I reviewed. Yes, I'll get a little bit back in commissions if &nbsp;you buy something using my code and I'll happily support you if you go the ISA route like I did, but you do whatever you want! If you want to find another ISA, Google will help you out! I'm not and never will be doing this to sell you something.</span><br /><br /><br /></div></div><script> (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-59324634-1', 'auto'); ga('send', 'pageview'); </script></div><div class="feedflare">
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</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RatedBeauty/~4/Ev9rFqBKZ6o" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Talinoreply@blogger.com1http://www.ratedbeautyblog.com/2015/03/skincare-review-blackbox-cosmetics-6.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-828149925411267034.post-5024961020802795252015-03-09T13:38:00.000-05:002015-04-24T19:01:19.648-05:00Makeup Review: NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=4886757&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank"><img alt="Matte Velvet Cruella" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mBjcmek-Pdg/VP36its65oI/AAAAAAAAA3U/-uvPhg0ZOJo/s1600/NARSCruella.jpg" height="320" title="NARS Matte Velvet Lip Pencil Cruella" width="78" /></a></div><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b>Product</b>:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=4886757&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella</a><br /><br /><b>Review</b>: I got the NARS&nbsp;Velvet&nbsp;Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella as part of my Sephora birthday gift, and I bought the full size soon after because I love it. My boyfriend's intense hatred of red lipstick be damned! Ugh, damn you Sephora and your ability to make me buy all the things. I fall for it every time... But to be fair, I was eyeing this color for a while, so I guess my arm didn't need THAT much twisting.<br /><br />I'm a huge fan of everything about this lipstick, from the packaging to the staying power. I adore lipstick in pencil form, because it gives me precision without my having to dig out a lip brush. Am I the only one who hates using lip brushes? I might be... and I'm cool with that. I think it's because I have big lips and lip brushes take me 5 times as long to cover the same area. Stupid tiny brushes. Anyway, the jumbo lip pencils like this make it so easy for me to get that perfect, precise red lip. No concealer or clean-up needed! Speaking of, the color is gorgeous - a rich, sultry crimson. Not too dark, not too bright. It reminds me of my favorite red roses.<br /><br /><a name='more'></a><br /><br />The formula is great as well. It's applies smoothly with a matte finish, no surprises there. I don't find it drying, and my lips are dry in general, so I get insanely excited when I find a matte lipstick that works for them. I wouldn't exactly call it moisturizing (most mattes aren't), but it doesn't do me any damage or exacerbate the problem. Even without any magical moisturizing properties, it's very comfortable to wear and the color lasts all day with an occasional touch-up here and there after eating. Oh, and no feathering on me, but I'm one of those lucky people that don't often have issues with that. If it's something that happens often to you, I'd suggest trying it out instore or making sure the store you order from has an awesome return policy.<br /><br />It also plays nicely with other lipsticks. I would say it's just a titch on the warm side, so one of my favorite things to do when I'm wearing cooler shades is to layer it over<a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=468051536&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank"> NYX Matte Lipstick in Natural</a>, which helps adjust and deepen the shade. I'll take pics the next time I do it, but I'm not sure how accurate it'll come out due to the awful lighting in the house. Either way, I'll try to suck it up and post an attempt sometime this week for your amusement.<br /><br />Only critique: it unscented, so there's nothing to disguise that odd "lipsticky" smell. That particular odor is a lipstick pet peeve of mine, so I prefer a hint of citrus or vanilla. Something to make it smell a tiny bit more appetizing. It's on my lips, right under my nose, you know? However, I don't tend to take off points unless the smell is unreasonably strong, because fragrance is such an irritant for people. And it's not at all terrible in this product, just something to be aware of so you're not surprised later.<br /><br />Other than that tiny thing, it hits all the bases for a matte red lipstick and I don't think there's much room for improvement.<br /><br /><b>Rated Beauty Grade</b>: A<br /><br /><b>Price</b>: $26 at <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=472266683&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Nordstrom</a>, <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=380811173&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">NARS Cosmetics</a>, <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=14446349&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Bloomingdales</a>, <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=268368389&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Beauty.com</a><br /><br /><br /></div><script> (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-59324634-1', 'auto'); ga('send', 'pageview'); </script></div><div class="feedflare">
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</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RatedBeauty/~4/9rbcK8choe4" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Talinoreply@blogger.com0http://www.ratedbeautyblog.com/2015/03/makeup-review-nars-matte-velvet-lip.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-828149925411267034.post-50982079433904948732015-03-04T15:49:00.002-06:002015-04-24T19:01:34.845-05:00First Impressions: Blackbox Cosmetics Restoration Skin Kit<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://shop.blackboxcosmetics.com/TD1206" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="274" src="https://shop.blackboxcosmetics.com/upload/product/DSC05930_medium.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />I stumbled across an Independent Sales Associate's ad for <a href="http://www.blackboxuniversal.com/" target="_blank">Blackbox Cosmetics</a> around 3 years ago on Craiglist while job hunting. It's yet another MLM sales company that primarily relies on ISAs to survive, like Jamberry, Younique, Pure Romance, etc. It was so new at the time that I couldn't find anything on the company or the founder, so I passed, even though I was interested in their products -- I love that their skincare line is aloe-based and the ingredients sound top notch.<br /><br />I've kept tabs on them throughout the years, because I'm always looking for new things to try. I was fascinated by this company - &nbsp;such great sounding products, almost no publicity, and they somehow never went bankrupt like I was expecting. When I would search for them, I could only find raves from a few ISAs hungry for sales and 1 or 2 other bloggers who had tried samples but not the full-sized products. It wasn't much to go on, so a couple months ago, I decided to look for samples and found an ISA who was <a href="http://www.tryblackbox.com/" target="_blank">mailing them out</a>. She sent me little packets of the <a href="https://shop.blackboxcosmetics.com/product-details?id=2&amp;ajax=true" target="_blank">Infusion AM</a> and <a href="https://shop.blackboxcosmetics.com/product-details?id=41&amp;ajax=true" target="_blank">Little Secret Weapon</a> serums. I was surprised at their quality. While I'd looked at the ingredients, I wasn't expecting them to be as great as they were, and my skin loved them. I was originally going review the samples like the other girls, but the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to try out the whole <a href="https://shop.blackboxcosmetics.com/product-details?id=5&amp;ajax=true" target="_blank">Restoration Skin Kit</a>.<br /><br /><a name='more'></a><br /><br />My skin has been a bitch this winter. My rosacea has been awful, I've had tons of breakouts, and nothing seems to make it happy. I think it's finally had enough of my skincare sample experimentation, so I decided I needed a set of skincare products meant to work in harmony, instead of slathering a hodgepodge of various things on my face and calling it good. My face used to be cool with mixing it up, but no more! I want it to behave again, so I thought about buying sets from other high-priced brands I've had decent luck with. However, I kept coming back to Blackbox because of the price, ingredients, and relative obscurity. I figured if I signed up as an ISA (it's a 1 time fee for life, no renewal fees), I'd get the whole restoration kit and if I loved it, I'd be able to buy refills and everything else on their site at wholesale cost. So much cheaper than buying 5 full-sized Clarins products, you know?<br /><br />One thing that's interesting about Blackbox Cosmetics is that it's impossible to buy anything from them without finding an ISA and using one of their replicated shopping carts. A lot of MLM companies let you buy from the main site without finding an ISA to give commissions to. Not Blackbox. If you don't have an ISA, you have to search for one before you can buy. This is great, because that means there are no lost commissions, but it's a little annoying for the customer. It was easy for me, &nbsp;I just used the cart of the lady I got samples from, signed up as an ISA, and got the Restoration Kit. The total cost with shipping and ISA enrollment fees was $165. I think 7 quality products for around $24 is a great deal, considering my other favorite moisturizers are around $40-50 and don't come to me in light and air-free packaging.<br /><br />I have to say, I am super impressed with their shipping process. I placed my order on 2/24 at around 6pm, it shipped out that night, and I got it on 2/26. So speedy! And all my products came in a literal black box. Now we know where the name comes from... Freaking love the box, btw. I keep it in my bathroom stuff my smaller palettes into it. But I digress... as a new "ISA," I got my new toys and a folder with some brochures about the products (which I don't care about because I don't plan on going forth and selling), as well as a free full-size <a href="https://shop.blackboxcosmetics.com/product-details?id=285&amp;ajax=true" target="_blank">Vudu Ice Lip</a>, which is one of their lip plumping products. I already have full lips, but what the hell, I'll try it. For science!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oAGEg4WgR04/VPd8bMSqvJI/AAAAAAAAA2o/hPF-JTi1pCI/s1600/20150226_184359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Blackbox ISA opportunity" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oAGEg4WgR04/VPd8bMSqvJI/AAAAAAAAA2o/hPF-JTi1pCI/s1600/20150226_184359.jpg" height="640" title="Blackbox Cosmetics Restoration Skin Kit" width="504" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black box w/brochures and stuffs</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A6oGUByhnkA/VPd8bNKmUMI/AAAAAAAAA2k/FMnokfc0GaE/s1600/blackboxresorationskinkit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Blackbox ISA opportunity" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A6oGUByhnkA/VPd8bNKmUMI/AAAAAAAAA2k/FMnokfc0GaE/s1600/blackboxresorationskinkit.jpg" height="416" title="Blackbox Cosmetics Restoration Skin Kit" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All the shiny new things</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Since there is very little info on these products and it's such a pain in the ass to find a non-sales pitch review, I'll spend some of this month doing in-depth reviews of all 8 products I got. I'll even take pics for y'all, and I hate doing that, because the lighting in my house sucks balls. Oh! I also plan on doing before and after pics at the end of this month so we can see if my skin has any obvious improvement. But suffice it to say that I am enjoying the system so far! I can't believe it, but there isn't a single product I hate. Out of 8, I was expecting at least 2-3 duds, but I've had a good experience with all of them. It's been almost a week, and I have no new pimples, the small amount of milia under my eyes is all but gone, and my pores are noticeably smaller. My top picks are the Infusion AM (great ingredients, very moisturizing), <a href="https://shop.blackboxcosmetics.com/product-details?id=40&amp;ajax=true" target="_blank">Defiance PM</a> (same, but I like the smell more), <a href="https://shop.blackboxcosmetics.com/product-details?id=4&amp;ajax=true" target="_blank">6 Minute Miracle</a> (best microdermabrasion product I've ever tried), and <a href="https://shop.blackboxcosmetics.com/product-details?id=54&amp;ajax=true" target="_blank">Sea Mask</a> (the most effective mask I've tried in years).<br /><br />There are a couple things I dislike that have nothing to do with the products (those are solid). The first is that Blackbox Cosmetics has a serious lack of training resources for their ISAs. If you're looking to make money on the side, I would suggest only choosing Blackbox if you have marketing, sales, and MLM experience under your belt, as well as a hardcore entrepreneurial spirit because they give you very, very little to work with. You don't even get a real personal website to work with, just a replication of the original shopping site. The second thing I dislike is their branding and website. I have a lot of designer friends and work for a marketing company, and I find their branding unsophisticated (bad color combos, font choices, etc) and not in-line with the quality of their product or standards. Their branding screams "amateur hour" to me when their product is in line with Fresh, Korres, Origins, Ole Henriksen, etc. I feel like this company is focused on product quality and innovation, which is great, but marketing and sales is an afterthought. Not great for the ISAs.<br /><br />In closing, before I embark on my month of occasional Blackbox writeups, please know that while I'm technically an ISA now, I'm only one so that I can buy their products at wholesale to appease my own curiosity and turn out some legit reviews on them. Would I be super happy if some of you used <a href="http://shop.blackboxcosmetics.com/TD1206" target="_blank">my cart</a> to try out some products for yourself? Of course! Who doesn't love extra funds? But I won't be hurt if you find someone else to buy from or are like, "Fuck that company, *<i>insert favorite brand here</i>* 4 Life!" I'm not doing this to make a sale, and I hate it when people in MLMs shove their products down my throat, so I will never do that on this blog. :)<br /><br />If you want to read more about the products and company, here's my&nbsp;<a href="http://shop.blackboxcosmetics.com/TD1206" target="_blank">replicated site</a>&nbsp;or their <a href="http://www.blackboxuniversal.com/" target="_blank">official site</a>. 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</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RatedBeauty/~4/utxPc5P-p_M" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Talinoreply@blogger.com4http://www.ratedbeautyblog.com/2015/03/first-impressions-blackbox-cosmetics.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-828149925411267034.post-41236956907400231862015-03-02T16:21:00.000-06:002015-04-24T19:02:03.568-05:00My Favorite E.L.F. Products<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">It took me the longest time to try anything from E.L.F. I refused to believe that a brand so dirt cheap could have worthwhile products, but after being bombarded with endorsements from friends and the internet, I decided to suck it up and try a few things. And now I use some&nbsp;E.L.F.&nbsp;(too lazy to type in those&nbsp;extra periods) products every day or on a rotating basis. These are the ones I've tried so far that I wholeheartedly recommend, because why spend $20 when a $1-3 product will do the trick?<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=386015516&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank"><img alt="Best ELF Products" border="0" src="http://bim.shopstyle.com/pim/de/38/de38c52adf6e84e6f6bf09e3ff58c3fd_best.jpg" height="320" title="ELF Makeup Remover Pen" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>#1.<a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=386015516&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">&nbsp;E.L.F.Makeup Remover Pen</a>, $3 - It's a marker that removes little makeup mistakes. Best thing ever for&nbsp;correcting fucked up winged liner! Or those annoying mascara dots. Wipe it off after each use and it'll last you a while. I had my last one for... 4 months?<br /><br /><a name='more'></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=386009881&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank"><img alt="ELF Studio Eyebrow Kit" border="0" src="http://bim.shopstyle.com/pim/f7/83/f7835ed57ae1d686bbcec5e306075a41_best.jpg" height="320" title="Best ELF Products" width="251" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>#2.&nbsp;<a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=386009881&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">E.L.F.Studio Eyebrow Kit</a>, $3 - Comes with a tinted brow wax, a powder, and a tiny little brush thing.&nbsp;No, it's not the most sophisticated brow kit in the world, but it works. Irritating flyaway eyebrow hairs? Tamed. Patchy brows? <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MW6f9Xjrt4" target="_blank">Fills them in</a> without looking over-the-top fake. The brush is cheap as hell, you can make it work. It's definitely worth a try!&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=389978010&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank"><img alt="ELF Lash and Brow Clear Mascara" border="0" src="http://bim.shopstyle.com/pim/8d/42/8d42e0990a02cb1fb29eebfb1b43c122_best.jpg" height="172" title="Best ELF Products" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>#3. <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=389978010&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">E.L.F. Professional Wet Gloss Lash &amp; Brow Clear Mascara</a>, $1.50 - I am really against paying a lot of brow gel, because... it's brow gel. I use it on lazy days to make my wayward eyebrow hairs behave themselves, and this stuff makes my brows stay in place all day long. Only takes a little for a great result.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=365619395&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank"><img alt="ELF Tone Correcting Powder Palette" border="0" src="http://bim.shopstyle.com/pim/fa/07/fa075b9a0339e6ce6977220bb66369bf_best.jpg" height="320" title="Best ELF Products" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>#4. <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=365619395&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">E.L.F. Tone Correcting Powder Palette</a>, $3 - Omg, I love this stuff so much. Is it going to eliminate all your redness? No, but it will do a little bit. And it's an awesome finishing powder that mattifies without drying out my face. It's very subtle and makes my face looked airbrushed. Perfect for when your BB cream is making you look too dewy.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=386015600&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank"><img alt="ELF Studio Contouring Blush and Bronzing Powder" border="0" src="http://bim.shopstyle.com/pim/19/63/196379e6e2cc8c6a3673ee0ffb028eda_best.jpg" height="320" title="Best ELF Products" width="320" /></a></div><div>#5. <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=386015600&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">E.L.F. Studio Contouring Blush and Bronzing Powder</a>, $3 - This is my go-to travel blush/bronzer. It looks great, lasts surprisingly long for a $3 powder product, and it's so cheap that if I lose it, I won't cry. It's similar to NARS Orgasm and Laguna. Not as great, but it's a decent substitute.</div><div><br /></div><div>So yep! Those are my favorites so far. I know there are a ton more to try, so what are your favorite E.L.F. products? Any others I shouldn't be living without? Let me know!<br /><br /><br /></div></div><script> (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-59324634-1', 'auto'); ga('send', 'pageview'); </script></div><div class="feedflare">
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</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RatedBeauty/~4/qkvMt3LJoSU" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Talinoreply@blogger.com0http://www.ratedbeautyblog.com/2015/03/my-favorite-elf-products.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-828149925411267034.post-6623196813220030452015-03-01T15:27:00.000-06:002015-03-10T14:45:40.838-05:00Skincare Review: Dr. Brandt Needles No More<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=465648066&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank"><img alt="wrinkle relaxing cream" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rsvpt6KQRT8/VPODAF3ierI/AAAAAAAAA1w/FaFPbpqr0A0/s1600/needlesnomore.jpg" height="200" title="dr brandt needes no more" width="96" /></a></div><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b>Product:&nbsp;</b><a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=465648066&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Dr. Brandt Needles No More</a><br /><br /><b>Review</b>: I got a&nbsp;jumbo sample of this for my last <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=465648066&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Sephora </a>order. It claims to be a "revolutionary topical cream that mimics anti-wrinkle treatments to visibly relax and smooth the look of expression lines and wrinkles. The formula encourages a superficial tightening action, preventing contraction and providing quick relaxation. The wrinkle relaxers also help to further relax over time, creating the appearance of smoother skin."<br /><br />Sounds magical right? Not so much. This product did NOTHING for my forehead and eyebrow lines. Nothing! And I used this crap for 2 weeks. There is absolutely nothing interesting about this product other than the claims. Not the feel, fragrance, and certainly not the effects, because there aren't any. At least for me. This is hands down one of, if not THE most gimmicky skincare products I've ever tried. A good primer does a better job at hiding the lines than this bullshit goop. It doesn't even moisturize! I guess the only possible nice thing I can say about it is that the packaging on the full-size Needles No More looks decent. That's the best I can do, because a mild exfoliation treatment and a great moisturizer does more for me than this product ever will. I can't believe there are <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=465648066&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">positive reviews for it</a>. Either it's the placebo effect or they're really, really lucky.<br /><br />If you're still interested and have tons of money to burn on an $89 gimmick, I strongly recommend getting a sample first to test whether or not you're one of those extra special snowflakes this product actually works on.<br /><br /><b>Rated Beauty Grade</b>: F<br /><br /><b>Price</b>: $89 at <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=465648066&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Sephora</a><br /><br /></div><script> (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-59324634-1', 'auto'); ga('send', 'pageview'); </script></div><div class="feedflare">
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</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RatedBeauty/~4/6ll9Fwzq-GM" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Talinoreply@blogger.com0http://www.ratedbeautyblog.com/2015/03/skincare-review-dr-brandt-needles-no.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-828149925411267034.post-30101532512381709492015-02-19T17:43:00.002-06:002015-04-24T19:03:14.338-05:00Makeup Review: L'oreal Butterfly Intenza Mascara<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=462641553&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank"><img alt="mascara review" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jhQqjc7AOBg/VOZx2X4DvtI/AAAAAAAAA1Y/4UoIZ2XXkcY/s1600/butterflyintenza.jpg" height="320" title="butterfly intenza mascara" width="128" /></a></div><br /><b>Product</b>:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=462641553&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">L'oreal Butterfly Intenza Mascara</a><br /><br /><b>Review</b>: In the land of drugstore mascaras, there are a lot of hits and misses. Some rival even the best high-priced products out there, while others turn you into a sad, raccoony/spidery mess with red eyes.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QyA8rBCQJuY/VOZxyS9T1TI/AAAAAAAAA1M/YyqEjcBFgg4/s1600/awfulmascara.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="spider lashes" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QyA8rBCQJuY/VOZxyS9T1TI/AAAAAAAAA1M/YyqEjcBFgg4/s1600/awfulmascara.jpg" title="bad mascara" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What my mascara nightmares are made of...&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table>Fortunately, this mascara is one of the great ones. It's under $10 and it out-performs almost any expensive mascara in my arsenal, because it's a no fuss solution for my sparse, stick-straight lashes. As long as I curl them beforehand, my lashes look amaaaazing. Each one is perfectly defined, volumized, and lengthened to the point where I've gotten compliments, and believe me when I say that is no small feat. You know how some Asian women complain about their lashes? Well, a lot of Native American chicks have the same problem, and I happen to have inherited that issue.<br /><br /><a name='more'></a><br /><br />This mascara's success is due to having a really fun, innovative brush and a great formula that holds a curl, dries quickly, and has a great matte finish. The brush really does fan out your lashes in a way that resembles falsies and prevents clumps like a dream. In addition, it manages to hit the mascara trifecta - adding volume, length, and definition.<br /><br />Another great thing about this mascara is that it's very multi-purpose. You can build up the drama while it's still wet, meaning that it works for both natural and dramatic looks. Yay, versatility! However, that brings me to my one complaint: if you try to let one coat dry and apply another, it will get flaky on you. Same goes for if you spend too much time layering on extra product for more drama - let it start drying and keep applying? Flaky funtimes. If it doesn't get flaky right from the get go, it will definitely be flaking all over the place by the end of the day. Sigh.<br /><br />That said, everything else about this product is solid, and if you work quickly and don't mess with your lashes after, this mascara will wear perfectly fine all day long. It's turned into my everyday mascara and I find myself reaching for it, even over the <a href="http://www.ratedbeautyblog.com/2015/02/makeup-review-benefit-cosmetics-roller.html" target="_blank">Benefit Roller Lash</a> I liked so much earlier in the week.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>All in all, I would wholeheartedly recommend this product for your next drugstore shopping spree, because if it can make my lashes impressive, I can't imagine how great it'll look on someone with more lashes than me. Hmmm... I should have guineapigged my sister on this before I wrote up my review... girl has more lashes than a photoshopped mascara model. We're hanging out next weekend, so I might attack her with mascara when she's distracted with booze...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T8vXeSztIr4/VOZx2fRfwTI/AAAAAAAAA1U/OoNPOAzxo8o/s1600/winememe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="only thing better than a bottle of wine is two bottles of wine" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T8vXeSztIr4/VOZx2fRfwTI/AAAAAAAAA1U/OoNPOAzxo8o/s1600/winememe.jpg" title="wine meme" /></a></div><br /><br /><b>Rated Beauty Grade</b>: A-<br /><br /><b>Price</b>: $7-9 at <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=462641553&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Drugstore.com</a>, <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=456540238&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Ulta</a>, <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=468100429&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Amazon</a><br /><br /><br /></div><script> (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-59324634-1', 'auto'); ga('send', 'pageview'); </script></div><div class="feedflare">
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</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RatedBeauty/~4/56kIPK70M3E" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Talinoreply@blogger.com0http://www.ratedbeautyblog.com/2015/02/makeup-review-loreal-butterfly-intenza.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-828149925411267034.post-9742356751699392032015-02-18T12:56:00.000-06:002015-04-24T19:03:22.578-05:00Makeup Review: Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=465170927&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank"><img alt="Blog Review of Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dYqPCPxpPkE/VOTcAMJzHQI/AAAAAAAAA08/TSaav8kG0t4/s1600/Hourglassmineralveil.jpg" height="320" title="Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer" width="82" /></a></div><br /><b>Product</b>:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=465170927&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer</a><br /><br /><b>Review</b>: I wanted to love the&nbsp;Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer. I wanted it to be the epitome of what a primer should be. I'd heard nothing about amazing things about it: my friend endorsed the shit out of it, magazines are all over it, and it's been loved up by other reviewers, makeup gurus, etc. I think I might have gotten caught up in the hype, because I placed this primer on a pedestal before I bought it. I thought "Oh, I'll try a bunch of less expensive primers and when I finally buy this one, it'll blow me away." Nope, nope, nope.<br /><br />I finally bought it last August, tried it out, and was just... underwhelmed. There is nothing exceptional about this product to me. The formula is kind of runny and separates, so I have to shake the bottle every time before I use it. Once on my skin, it feels like a less silicone-y version of <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=260069837&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Smashbox's Photo Finish Primer</a>. It does nothing to really improve the texture of my skin or lessen the appearance of my pores. It only does an OK job of controlling the oil on my T-zone; other primers work just as well. I also don't notice much of a difference in application or wear-time of my makeup. It's just so very MEH to me! It's fine for what it is, I suppose, but it's like an apple in a pile of tropical fruit. So glad I bought the $18 travel size version to test it out, because I'm only just now finishing it up. I never reach for it! It's more of a last resort kind of primer for me. An afterthought, if you will. And if you're paying more for your primer than you are for your foundation (the full-size 1oz bottle is $52), it shouldn't be an afterthought. I guess it doesn't break me out or drive me nuts with fragrance, so at least there's that?<br /><br /><a name='more'></a><br /><br />I can't help but think this is product is insanely overpriced. The people who rave about it most seem to be people with incredibly oily skin. If this works for you, awesome! But I think you could save a ton of money over the year using a less expensive primer, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyQsVyGadbY" target="_blank">Goss Foundation Method</a> and a high-quality oil-absorbing powder, like <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=448102192&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Tarte's Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Finishing Powder</a>, which I use on all my oily friends with great results.<br /><br /><b>Rated Beauty Grade</b>: B-<br /><br /><b>Price</b>: $18-72 at <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=465170927&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Nordstrom</a>, <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=19477077&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Sephora</a>,<br /><br /><br /></div><script> (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-59324634-1', 'auto'); ga('send', 'pageview'); </script></div><div class="feedflare">
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</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RatedBeauty/~4/nG7iuNEblZ0" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Talinoreply@blogger.com2http://www.ratedbeautyblog.com/2015/02/makeup-review-hourglass-veil-mineral.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-828149925411267034.post-50750334197909284022015-02-17T14:40:00.000-06:002015-04-24T19:03:32.374-05:00Makeup Review: Julep Glow Highlighting Powder<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=AefWZVP9G6k&amp;subid=&amp;offerid=369611.1&amp;type=10&amp;tmpid=14281&amp;RD_PARM1=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.julep.com%2Fglow-highlighting-powder.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ASoiGmCB9os/VOOVqKtHsqI/AAAAAAAAAz4/EXo08Hc0j2o/s1600/glowilluminatingpowder.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div><div><b><br /></b></div><b></b><br /><div><b><b><br /></b></b></div><b>Product</b>:&nbsp;<a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=AefWZVP9G6k&amp;subid=&amp;offerid=369611.1&amp;type=10&amp;tmpid=14281&amp;RD_PARM1=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.julep.com%2Fglow-highlighting-powder.html" target="_blank">Julep Glow Highlighting Powder</a><br /><div><br /></div><div><b>Review</b>: I'm all about my highlighters. I love shimmer in general, but I loooove a good champagne highlighter on my cheekbones. It makes me look awake and alive, which is hard to do in the morning, and I like to think it makes me glow all sexy-like, like those elves in Lord of the Rings. Yes, that's right Coworkers. Bask in my ethereal elven glow.</div><div><br /></div><div>In order to give you a baseline on my preferences, my all-time favorite highlighter is <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=348981461&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">TheBalm's Mary-Lou Manizer</a>, which I <a href="http://www.ratedbeautyblog.com/2013/03/review-thebalm-cosmetics-mary-lou.html" target="_blank">reviewed way back when</a>. 2 years later, and I think I love it more than I did initially. However, I have been using Julep's Glow Highlighting Powder this month and am loving it almost as much. Almost.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>So, so glad that I opted for it in my Maven box last month, because it's a beautiful product. The shimmer is created with actual diamond powder, I guess, which is fun. Very pigmented, finely milled, long-wearing, and a great neutral that should look good on everyone. I would define the color as another champagne shimmer tone that works with any makeup color selection. I think it's tiny bit lighter than the Mary-lou Manizer, but it's hard to tell. It's definitely more sheer, so I don't think it doubles as an eyeshadow like theBalm's does. Also, the glitter bits a bit more pronounced, so I wouldn't use it all over my face. I use it just for highlighting, which is what it's marketed for, and I'm cool with that.&nbsp;</div><div><br /><a name='more'></a><br /></div><div>Along with the diamond powder, Julep also packed the formula with vitamin B6, their exclusive Power Cell Complex,&nbsp;Malvaceae Lipid Extract, Rosehip Oil and Green Coffee Bean Oil. All these additions are supposedly anti-aging and good for your skin. Fun, yes. But it's also a powder that should be used sparingly, so I doubt I'm getting any real benefits from all the bonuses. While you do get a giant pan of product that will last you forever, I feel like you're paying a bit extra for all the novelty stuff. That said, you get a bunch of product in a cute, black compact with a mirror and the highlighter itself is beautiful, so I don't feel like there's much I can complain about.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>One thing to be aware of - some reviewers have reported that the pan isn't glued well into their compact, so if you buy it, make sure you open it right side up and are careful the first time.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Rated Beauty Grade</b>: A-</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Price</b>: $28, or $22 if you're a <a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=AefWZVP9G6k&amp;subid=&amp;offerid=369611.1&amp;type=10&amp;tmpid=14281&amp;RD_PARM1=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.julep.com%2Fglow-highlighting-powder.html" target="_blank">Julep Maven</a><br /><br /><br /></div></div><script> (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-59324634-1', 'auto'); ga('send', 'pageview'); </script></div><div class="feedflare">
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</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RatedBeauty/~4/TFvDUPSsSOA" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Talinoreply@blogger.com0http://www.ratedbeautyblog.com/2015/02/makeup-review-julep-glow-highlighting.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-828149925411267034.post-46859275923859958382015-02-16T16:18:00.000-06:002015-04-24T19:03:39.490-05:00Makeup Review: Benefit Cosmetics Roller Lash Mascara<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=470176305&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://bim.shopstyle.com/pim/a6/5e/a65e07ef76f5c85864b28700a3fa69e6_best.jpg" height="320" width="110" /></a></div><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b>Product</b>: <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=470176305&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Benefit Cosmetics Roller Lash Mascara</a><br /><br /><b>Review</b>: I actually got a free sample of something before it was available in stores. Wooo! Yay, <a href="https://www.birchbox.com/invite/18wn9">Birchbox</a>! I feel all elite now. Haha... jk. &nbsp;Anyway, I was excited to try out this mascara because I had liked <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=258631760&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39">Benefit's They're Real</a> mascara, even though it's no longer in my rotation (it's my sister's favorite though). This product is marketed as a "super-curling and lifting mascara," which is exactly what I need in my life.<br /><br />&nbsp;I did not luck out in the Native American/German genetics lottery where lashes are concerned. They're stick-straight, sparse, and entirely unimpressive unless curled and mascara-ed to death. I wish I had the patience for falsies every day, but I don't, so my never-ending quest for my dream mascara continues. Over the years, I've found a couple I really like for my stubby lashes, but nothing to the point of "OMG HOLY GRAIL." Benefit's Roller Lash isn't quite at that level for me. But it's close.<br /><br /><a name='more'></a><br /><br />This mascara is great. The packaging is adorable and girly, the brush is awesome, and the formula is excellent. Very black, matte finish, not super perfumed, and it's easy to get off with my normal remover. I've worn it all weekend and today, and thus far, it's stood up through snow, workouts, and everyday blinking with nary a flake or smear. My lashes look just as great at the end of the day than they did at the beginning, which isn't something I can say about most mascaras -- I tend to get a bit of lash droopage as they try to re-straighten themselves. Not so with this product! Best of all? It actually curls my lashes! It does such a great job that I don't even use a lash curler with it. Dead serious. I can't remember ever being able to do that, and I'm in awe of how well it curls and defines. Plus, it's versatile enough to work for both dramatic and natural looks<br /><br />However, things aren't 100% rainbows and unicorns. If you have pathetic lashes like I do, make sure you remove all the excess product with a tissue and stop as soon as you think your lashes look good. Don't add extra coats, don't keep running the brush through your lashes in an attempt to get more separation and volume. No matter how great the temptation, STOP as soon as it looks good. Otherwise, get out the bug spray: your lashes are taking a trip to <a href="http://michellephan.com/beauty-school-how-to-fix-spidery-lashes/">Spider Town</a>.<br /><br />So, yeah. Definitely took me a little trial and error to figure out how to avoid the spider lash effect, but now that I have, I'm loving it. I would put it in my top tier of mascaras and am seriously considering getting the full-size once it's out. I love not having to curl my lashes in the AM!<br /><br /><i><b>Update</b>: I'm docking a couple more points due to the stickiness of the formula and how long it takes to dry. It's still a great mascara, but sometimes I think it's dry and attempt to tweak my eyeliner, only to give myself heinous lash clumps. So annoying!&nbsp;</i><br /><br /><b>Rated Beauty Grade</b>: B<br /><br /><b>Price</b>: $24 - <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=470176305&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39">Macys</a>, <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=469997289&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Sephora</a>, <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=471291286&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">Benefit</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><script> (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-59324634-1', 'auto'); ga('send', 'pageview'); </script> </div><div class="feedflare">
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</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RatedBeauty/~4/bG0HPmOJj8Q" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Talinoreply@blogger.com1http://www.ratedbeautyblog.com/2015/02/makeup-review-benefit-cosmetics-roller.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-828149925411267034.post-8754985624161647022015-02-14T16:07:00.000-06:002015-02-14T16:27:59.217-06:00Haircare Review: It's A 10 Miracle Leave-In Product<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=365066180&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://bim.shopstyle.com/pim/a5/12/a512fbc96143d30683b1716c22db10c5_best.jpg" title="it's a 10 miracle leave in product" /></a></div><br /><div class="shopsense-widget" data-options="%7B%22columns%22%3A1%2C%22rows%22%3A1%2C%22showBrand%22%3Atrue%2C%22showRetailer%22%3Atrue%2C%22showInfo%22%3Afalse%2C%22showPrice%22%3Atrue%2C%22showSalePrice%22%3Afalse%2C%22size%22%3A360%2C%22pid%22%3A%22uid3796-25453786-39%22%2C%22productIds%22%3A%5B365066180%5D%2C%22type%22%3A%7B%22name%22%3A%22Type%20of%20Widget%22%2C%22list%22%3Anull%2C%22model%22%3A%22quicklist%22%7D%7D"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Product</b>:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=365066180&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39" target="_blank">It's A 10 Miracle Leave-In Product</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Review</b>: I remember trying this product once in high school and loving it. At the time, my hair was glorious - thick, lots of body, super shiny- so I didn't notice much of a difference using this leave-in as opposed to other, cheaper ones. Fast forward to now. Bitches don't warn you that in your mid-to-late 20s, you might lose a bunch of your hair or your hair might change texture. Whether it be stress, hormones, nutrition, aging, or all of these factors combined, you might start to notice hair issues you never had before once you pass the quarter century mark. And it SUCKS! I hate it so much!!!!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Over the last 2 years, I've probably lost 40% of my hair. Fortunately, I've always had a lot of it, so it's not too noticeable, but I now have a whole new host of issues I have to combat. Like lack of body, tangling, fragility (I get split ends super easy now) and because it's much thinner, it gets greasy so fast! I never thought fine, greasy, and limp would be adjectives I use to describe my hair, but there you have it. I've had to change everything about my haircare routine and have spent the last year or so experimenting with all sorts of product combinations. At the worst point, I think I was using 5 or so products after every shower to get my hair to look like it once did. Then I got a travel-size version of this product in my <a href="https://www.birchbox.com/invite/18wn9">Birchbox</a>, and it changed my hair life.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I never thought I would say this, but this product really is a miracle product. It sounds so cheesy, but it's true! It is really rare for a hair product to live up to all its claims, but for this one really does. It detangles even the worst of my rats nests after a day of scarf-wearing, has pretty much eliminated the creation of new split ends, protects my hair from blow-drying, and gives my hair shine and body without the grease. It also smells nice, exactly like a Ralph Lauren perfume I used to have. <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=7638188&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39">Ralph Lauren Ralph</a>, I think? I can't remember... but the scent fades after it dries. Anyway, it's amazing! I can't say enough good things about it.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Not only do I adore it, but my new favorite hair stylist swears by it as well for all her clients. I think she uses one of the other variations now, but she loves the original too.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">One tip: If you're on a budget, spray this stuff into your hands and work it through your hair that way before using a wide-tooth comb. It only takes 3 sprays for me, and I have long hair. I read about this technique somewhere, and it makes a bottle last me a couple more months.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Rated Beauty Grade</b>: A+</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Price</b>: $12-29 at <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=365066180&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39">Drugstore.com</a>, <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=468068216&amp;pid=uid3796-25453786-39">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://www.birchbox.com/shop/it-s-a-10-miracle-leave-in-product">Birchbox</a><br /><br /></div></div></div><script> (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-59324634-1', 'auto'); ga('send', 'pageview'); </script></div><div class="feedflare">
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</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RatedBeauty/~4/Uzr3ygiiNWI" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Talinoreply@blogger.com0http://www.ratedbeautyblog.com/2015/02/haircare-review-its-10-miracle-leave-in.html